It was just another typical day at Wayne Manor. Alfred was somewhere in the enormous house cleaning or something. Bruce was currently at Wayne Enterprises in an important meeting. Dick was on a date with Kori and Damian was God knows where. Hopefully, not starting plans for world domination. And lastly, you, Jason and Tim were sitting in one of the Manor's many living rooms.
To say that you were bored was an understatement. You were dying from the lack of excitement. The day has just been uneventful and that was a rarity, especially if it involved the Waynes.
You were currently sitting on the couch watching (F/A/S). Well, more like rewatching, since there was supposed to be a new season soon and you wanted to refresh your memory. But even you were getting tired of that. You sighed and turned your head to look at Tim and Jason.
Your boyfriend of 2 years was bent over slightly on the chair next to the couch you were laying on. Jason was wearing a light grey tank with red as the trim with brown pants to match. In his lap rested his Red Hood helmet, which he was currently cleaning.
Then your eyes landed on Tim. Timbo or drug addict as you like to call him on a playful day, was sitting on the floor in front of the couch typing away on his laptop. Probably, working on a case for the big bad bats himself. Tim also had a cup of steaming hot coffee in his hands. Lifting it up he took a big but slow gulp of the still steaming beverage.
'How in the world can he just drink that without burning his togue?' You thought, 'I guess that's what happens when you're an addict.'
You soon turn back to your computer screen continuing to binge watch your show. Not long after though you turned away from your screen again and look back towards Jason. Who was now polishing his helmet his black hair with the single white streak, hung around his handsome face.
While gazing (more like staring) at Jason's position, an idea popped into your head.
Pressing pause, you set the computer to the side and stood up from the couch. You walk over to Jason and stand behind the chair.
Noticing your movements Jason glances up from his helmet turning his head to look at you.
"Hey babe!" he said, "What's up? Are you already done with your (F/A/S) marathon?"
You softly smile at him, "No, not yet. I was getting bored once I hit the third season."
He nodded, "Oh ok."
He then turned back towards his helmet and continued cleaning it. You still stood behind him eyes darting towards the helmet and his floppy hair.
Lifting up your hands you held up Jason's hair and let go. Confused Jason turned back towards you. "What are you doing (Y/N)?" Jason's question had now caught the attention of the dru- I mean Tim.
Tim eyes then turned to the two of you, curiosity shining in his blue orbs.
You however, shrugged and did the same thing to Jason's hair again. "Well, I'm trying to figure out how your hair stands up."
Jason's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion you swore you could have seen the anime question mark above his head.
'I need to stop watching so much anime', you mentally sighed.
"I don't understand", he said still confused. "It's just I don't know how you get your hair to stand up like it does", you say while pulling his hair up again only for it to fall back down after you let it go.
"See and you don't use any special conditioner of any kind or mine cause I would know."
Tim being silent this whole time decided to say something, "Hey Jason why don't you put on your helmet?"
Jason looked at Tim eyebrow cocked, "Why?"
"Just do it", he said.
Jason then sighed and put on the helmet while you walked back around the chair to look at him.
Once the helmet was on Jason looked at you both like he was expecting something.
"Ok now what?" He had asked.
"Now take it off?" Said Tim.
Jason then took off the helmet and when he did his hair was standing straight up. Tim smiled and looked at you.
"See", he said while you made an 'oh' sound in understanding.
"Okay so now I fully understand the secrets to my boyfriend's fabulous hair." You had said amusement lacing your voice.
Tim chuckled, "Yeah Jason has helmet hair like 97% of the time he's around." He then took another sip of his coffee, "Which is also the reason why Jason's head looks like twisted up skunk."
"Hey, stop making fun of my hair Timberly!" Jason yelled.
You giggled and sat in Jason's lap wrapping your arms around his shoulders, "Don't listen to Tim babe. Besides I really like your helmet hair it makes you look sexy."
Jason smiled, "Thanks babe."
"You are so welcome", you then give Jason a kiss on the lips.
You both then pull away from each other. Jason looked into your eyes and said, "Where would I be without you?"
"Probably still dead", Tim said standing at the door.
Jason gritted his teeth and picked you up placing you on the chair. He then turned his gaze towards his adopted brother, "I hope your ready. . ." He said while cracking his knuckles. "TO DIE REPLACEMENT!!!!"
"Oh S#!T!" Tim yelled and soon the chase was on, and the once quiet manor was filled with screams and glass shattering somewhere.
You quietly laughed at the two boys and then sighed once more.
"Man. . . . Even after all of that I'm still bored."
Blind Love and Silent Hearts - Chapter 10. On the Hunt for a Goddess pt. 3 - Tracing Her Steps
Words: 12,002
Summary: Ares, Artemis, and Hermes are finally in the gardens. With the help of Artemis's skills in tracking as the goddess of hunt. The sibling trio grow closer towards their target.
As the trees become more spacious, the hunting party comes upon a clearing—the last place where their prize was spotted.
The expert tracker goes to the spot where the prey stood, focusing intently on its previous tracks. After minutes of observing and searching, the hunter returns to the group and shares what they have found.
Even though there wasn’t much news and only limited evidence to rely on, there was a glimmer of hope ahead.
They, in fact, knew that what they were looking for was in fact not a ghost or a figment of the imagination. Instead, it was a ray of hope, for they were a tiny step closer in their mission, while also growing equally closer amongst each other, at the same time.
~ * ~
Hermes was walking the path alone this time.
The messenger of the gods walked the path as he followed the way his siblings went. However, this time his steps were a little heavier than normal, his usual swagger barely there as he traveled along the pathway.
Eyes, usually full of life and mischief, now carried exhaustion and uncertainty in his dimmed blue orbs. His mind repeated the words of his sister, Artemis, before she left to follow their war-minded brother.
“Open your eyes now, brother, before you get hurt.”
The god just sighed as more exhaustion hit him faster than his father’s lightning bolts. Seriously, how could things have gone so wrong in such a short time?
His plan was purely simple; he would help his brother in his mission to find out the identity of the mysterious goddess he encountered in the gardens several days ago. On top of that, with their sister Artemis helping them, the whole thing would be a breeze. Moreover, with his help, Hermes had barely any doubt that surely Ares would see how much Hermes wanted to bond with him. His eldest brother. While also trying to bridge the gap between Artemis and Ares, too. Forming a sibling bond that would show some serious promise.
Hermes quickly realized how foolish he was in his plan, for it had some major bumps in the road. Scratch that. The plan had many bumps as well as some serious damage.
Like a cyclops dancing, because he lit the beast’s toga on fire… Damage. Which was a prank he refused to repeat.
However, due to his eagerness, Hermes overlooked the most essential aspect of his plan. Artemis and Ares hated each other to a fault. Mainly, their brother just hated all bastards, like his mother Hera. A fact that his elder sister was once again right about.
Ares despised them to the depths of Tartarus; Hermes knew it. Artemis knew it. Heck! EVERYONE knew it. It wasn’t some giant secret, nor was it a mild observation, but common knowledge. The eldest son of Zeus never even tolerated his bastard siblings. Always treating them all with scorn and disgust. No doubt, wishing that they would fade from existence and never return.
Never get recognition or the respect they deserve.
Smiling cruelly, when misfortune falls upon them, or having wicked bloodlust thoughts on ending them himself, finally getting rid of the competition.
Yet, through all of that.
Through all the pain that their brother caused them, caused him. Hermes still didn’t want to abandon his brother. He wanted to continue to help him, no matter how or if he could. He just… Did. Although his brother could be a real piece of work on most days. Hermes wanted to continue to help him, to show him that they could be a family and remind him of the times they had together as brothers.
A time when he cared.
However, that all seemed more like a giant dream than a possible reality. No matter what he did, Ares fought them every step of the way. His brother’s pride is barring him from experiencing vulnerability. Blocking Hermes from entry into his brother’s mind and soul.
“Every time I try and take a couple of steps forward,” he sighed deeply, shoulders slumping and head hanging slightly low. “He causes me to take several steps back.”
Hermes stopped along the path and turned his head towards the horizon, watching as the sun slowly ascended in the sky.
What must he do to change the course of the river? Was there even a way to redirect it? Was there even a way to build a bridge over a gap so wide it seemed impossible to reach the other side?
Could he be able to alter the course of fate?
‘No, you cannot,’ his inner voice whispered to him sadly through his mind. A voice that spoke of a reality that he tended to try to ignore. ‘While you might be a god of Olympus and Zeus’s son. There are many things that even you cannot solve or fix within your jurisdiction. That includes the complexity of your brother.’ Hermes furrowed his eyebrows as he continued to listen to the voice in his head. Perhaps you should consider your sister’s advice and quit while you are at the beginning. Before, misfortune should fall upon yourself.’
With that, the voice was gone, leaving Hermes to continue his walk to the meeting spot. His heart became much more dejected than before, for it had seemed that even his own thoughts were agreeing with Artemis.
Was this some sort of sign?
Was Hermes truly in over his head and his dreams, his goals, unattainable despite the nobleness of the task he held?
Should he even bother to continue onward, when certain signs and people are telling him otherwise?
Should he… Should he give up?
The swift-footed god didn’t know, for his mind was telling him one thing. Yet, his heart was telling him another.
That he shouldn’t quit, and even though his brother doesn’t seem to want his help or his care. Nevertheless, it was better than leaving Ares alone, where he was lost in the darkness. To forever be consumed by hate and envy. Barred from the affection that he rightfully deserved to have.
‘Do not let the temper of your brother cloud your judgment,’ the inner voice said, but this one was lighter and more heartfelt. ‘It will take love to soften the heart, and that is a task one cannot do alone. To know where to start, one must first understand.’
“One must first understand…” Hermes repeated slowly. It wasn’t clicking in his head; he must understand first. Understand what? Ares? He practically understood exactly what his brother’s emotions were. He, as well as all of Olympus, witnessed what his brother lacked in life, but they all chose to ignore it for the longest time.
Of course, now Hermes was trying to do something about it.
Unfortunately, it felt like his efforts weren’t bearing fruit. So, what was he missing? Hermes continued down the path. Still thinking about what the voice said in his mind, “To know where to start, one must understand.”
One must understand….
Must understand….
Understand….
As Hermes continued to walk along the path, thoughts ran through his mind at lightning-fast speed, trying to decipher the unexpected words of wisdom. The swift-footed messenger was so lost in thought that he didn’t realize he was at the meeting spot.
The spot where his brother met the goddess.
Hermes blinked as he was stunned at how he had realized how quickly he had gotten here. Well, he shouldn’t be surprised since he is the fastest god in all of Olympus. Seriously, he could get to his palace and back just by walking normally.
Thankfully, he was here now, and he could finally start helping as much as he could. Yet, before he could even approach his siblings, he froze mid-step as his eyes finally took in the scene before him.
Once, mighty trees that provided shade and protection, now looked like broken twigs. Branches that were proudly raised high were now barely hanging on to the tree’s trunk. The limbs were drooping so lowly that they were touching the ground instead of rising high above it. However, those were better off trees. The others were way worse. For instance, a few feet ahead to Hermes’s right, there was a tree… Could he even call a pile of feet threatening splinters a tree at this point? Cause that was what was there, splinters, and that wasn’t even the only one that was like that. Many other trees were in the same state, broken and shattered as if they were glass. Some other trees were also a bit worse for wear. Some were toppled over, others were somehow split in half, and he at least saw two that were broken away from their stumps. Nonetheless, the destruction didn’t just stop there.
The flowers and the underbrush were awful, too, if not worse.
Bushes were crushed, pulled out, and looked lifeless. The messenger swore he saw one rolling past him, tumbling along, looking strangely sad. Hermes almost felt bad for it, then he began to wonder why exactly he was feeling bad for a tumbling weed. Shaking his head slightly, his eyes focused again on the area. Hedges were ruined, bits of the pathway were cracked, or full-on broken, and other places were destroyed by secondhand destruction. Like a giant tree’s trunk crushing a nice patch of once lively Dianthuses.
Speaking of the flowers, they were the ones that were the most affected by Ares’s rampage. The gorgeous kaleidoscope of colors that shone under the sun was an amazing array of magnificent divinity. Was in nothing but ruin, as they lay there on the ground crushed from under heel or heavy blunt and violently torn from their home in the flower beds. Not only that, but they were scorched as if someone set fire to them. The grass wasn’t safe either, since there were several burned charcoal black patches.
Finally turning his gaze towards his siblings, Hermes saw Artemis kneeling in the center of an area that had vast amounts of debris; however, it was clear of a lot of items littering the space. Her eyes were focused on the ground, probably doing what she does best by tracking where the goddess was in the area that day. So, he decided not to approach her.
His brother, on the other hand…
“What did you do?” Hermes questioned his brother; his voice filled with disbelief. “When I heard the gardens were in complete disarray before. I didn’t think it was this bad.”
Ares, who was standing tall with his arms crossed, was several steps behind where Artemis was kneeling. Turned toward his brother, eyes filled with boredom.
“Nice of you to join us, rabbit’s foot,” Ares drawled, not caring a lick for this upcoming conversation. “I was wondering, if you’re supposed to be the god of speed, how come you're late twice today?” Ares’s eyes lit up for a split second with a teasing glint in them. That Hermes undoubtedly saw, causing his heart to warm with an all too familiar feeling. “Don’t tell me the infamous Hermes is losing his edge?”
After shaking off his bewildered look, Hermes simply smirked and let out a derisive laugh. “Ha! You wish, I can still run cycles around you any day of the week. I was only late, because some gods…” He then glanced at his sister and then his elder brother in indication, “Rudely left without me earlier, plus I had my beauty sleep to consider when I was late the first time. Besides, don’t try to make this situation about me.” Hermes said, poking his brother on his armored chest, causing Ares to quirk a dark eyebrow.
“Unless you truly cherish that finger,” Ares then glowered down at his brother menacingly. “You will cease touching me this instant.”
Hermes immediately pulled his hand away, as he, in fact, was much too attached to all his limbs. So, aggravating his emotionally unstable brother? He chose the wiser path and decided to withdraw. At least, until after lunch.
“I, in fact, do adore this precious little finger of mine. I admit defeat and submit to you, great Ares, god of war,” Hermes did a mock bow towards his brother. Causing Ares to snort and roll his eyes, yet there was a hint of amusement twinkling in his blood red orbs.
“Fine, I accept your submission,” Ares replied, his ego climbing even higher. Finding a sort of enjoyment in hearing his brother proclaim submission.
Even though it was just his younger brother’s way of mocking him. The war god felt a wicked sense of victory at the thought of everyone finally submitting to his will and brilliance. Mainly his siblings, with them submitting he could finally prove himself. He could rise above many and claim the glory and honor that he deserved, desired.
With them out of the way, his father would respect him. The mighty Zeus king of the gods would praise him and respect him. He would finally be proud of him and love him, just as much as he adores his bastards. He would love his son. Something that Ares had always longed for.
Then by his side, the goddess that flickered in his mind. A goddess who he would proudly show to Olympus as his. That very goddess that he was so eagerly trying to find for answers and heated desire. A goddess that would smile as she did in his dreams, making feel higher than any of the other gods. For she belonged with him, just like his dreams had shown.
Alas, he had to find her first and only time would tell whether she returned that same mindset. If she did then he will gladly accept her at his side, as his goddess. If she didn’t, however, well, he would just have to convince her. Nothing malicious, but there were other ways of persuasion, and he could be nothing but persuasive sometimes.
Only time would tell.
“Just know Hermes, that I won’t be so generous the next time you dare to provoke me,” Ares turned back to look at Artemis, who was still busy with her task. As she wisely chose to ignore her two blundering brothers.
“Duly noted,” Hermes responded then his eyes turned to watch Artemis as well.
The silence amongst the three of them was loud, and the only sound that did chime throughout the open space. The tumbling bush passed directly in front of both brothers, coming to rest only inches from them. The sight looked comical to say the least, but neither of them decided to laugh at it. Making the silence slip further into awkwardness, hence making Hermes even more uncomfortable with each passing second.
He couldn’t take this anymore. Hermes needed conversation, and he needed it urgently.
“Sister,” Hermes called out to Artemis. While Artemis didn’t respond, the slight turn of her head was all the indication that Hermes needed to know that she was listening to him. “What exactly are you doing?”
“She’s tracking you, dolt,” the voice of his brother sounded beside him. The war god’s eyes became sharp as he glared harshly at his little brother. “I understand that you had just gotten here after taking your sweet time. Even so, when you came in, you saw what she was doing. So, why ask such an idiotic question? Next time, use common sense.”
“Hold your tongue, Ares,” Artemis said, angling her body to face her brothers fully. “Our brother has a right to ask such questions, since he did come late. So, watch yourself.”
Ares ground his teeth together, yet it was Hermes who cut him off, before he could even get a single word in. Or start another argument.
“It is all right, sister,” he said reassuringly, not wanting another exhausting argument to break out. “I should have been the one to assess the scene before asking such a cretinous question. I apologize and shall rephrase.” The messenger responded kindly to his still kneeling sister, but when he opened his mouth to speak again, a mischievous glint shone brightly in his eyes.
“Tell me, sister,” he asked while smiling his joyous smile. “How is your tracking coming along, since our brother decided to violate the gardens?”
At his question, both of his siblings had various reactions.
Artemis released a very impolite snort from her nose, trying for a few seconds not to laugh. Fortunately, for her she couldn’t and ended up cackling, much to her elder brother’s annoyance.
Speaking of Ares, he looked very offended, and he sharply turned his head to drill a hole into his brother’s head with his crimson eyes. The war god, uncrossing his arms as he clenched his fists at the sides.
“I did not violate the gardens!” Ares said defensively.
"Okay, then—god of denial. What exactly do you call this then?” Hermes dramatically gestured a hand towards the open space, proving his point further. “Cause I know for a fact that this, wasn’t you trying to redecorate.”
Ares growled again before raging, trying to defend his actions those days ago.
“Listen, feather brain,” he barked out. “I had a shit day, that day and I don’t need anymore reminders of it. Unlike you I needed to vent! Is that such a crime?”
“Yes, it is!” Hermes yelled back, “Especially, when you become a danger to nature. Look at the giant bush that is tumbling miserably behind you brother.” Hermes pointed towards the sight in question causing both Ares and Artemis to glance at the lonesome bush. The sight did seem quite heart wrenching, “You see! We should be holding a funeral for this place.”
Hermes then stood straight, his face changing into one of mock sadness. “We fair gods and goddesses, are gathered here today to witness the loss of these fair gardens.” Artemis had to stop herself from laughing again as she listened to her young brother, yet a smirk still resting upon her face. “They would still be alive today if it wasn’t for an overgrown baby with a tantrum. . . And a war hammer.” Hermes then started fake sobbing, “THEY WERE SO YOUNG!”
“Will you shut up!” Ares’s eye was twitching in irritation, and Hermes swore he saw his brother’s ears turn slightly red. Was Ares flustered?
“Please, don’t interrupt, brother. I am currently in the middle of a eulogy,” Hermes replied, causing Artemis to laugh again.
“A EULOGY?!” Ares cried out in disbelief, “A eulogy for what?”
“For the foliage! Have you been paying any attention? Surely after the damage you’ve done, you could at least show some respect by honoring the fallen.” Hermes huffed out in perfect theatrical annoyance, crossing his arms, and he turned away from the god of war. Making Ares’s eye twitch violently as if he were about to have a massive headache. While violently gesturing his hands towards his brother as if he was about to strangle him.
However, Ares just threw his hands up in the air and shouted in frustration. Turning away from his younger brother, who, without him noticing, gave a victorious thumbs up to their sister. A motion in which Artemis just smirked and returned proudly.
“Alright!” Ares then turned to face his siblings again, his crimson eyes carrying the authority he always showed upon the battlefield as he assessed his siblings as if they were his own soldiers. Hermes straightened up quickly, but Artemis slowly rose from her kneeling position and crossed her arms over her chest, a bored expression taking over her divine features.
“Enough with this foolishness,” Ares gave a harsh glare towards his brother, a glare that caused a bead of sweat to roll down the side of the messenger’s seemingly innocent smiling face. “We are on a mission, not some playdate. So, how about we cut these imbecilic conversations and get some progress done?” The war god watched as his brother gave him a nod and a thumbs up, smiling.
Ares rolled his eyes, shifting to face his younger bastard sister, “What have you found from tracking the area?”
Artemis glared at her elder brother, but before she could open her mouth to snark at the brute. Her midnight blue eyes shifted to Hermes, and unfortunately for her, she remembered her promise to him. An infuriating promise to no longer pick a fight with the god of war, much to her dismay. Nonetheless, a promise was a promise, and she could do nothing but comply.
“Well, brother,” Artemis held back a sneer as she said the word ‘brother’ as if it disgusted her to say so normally. “Thanks to your rampage, it was hard to even track anything, considering the innumerable amounts of damage inflicted on this place. It was a miracle that I even found tracks to begin with.”
The huntress placed her hands on her hips, glaring at Ares with an irritated scowl. Wanting her brother to feel the heat of her annoyance, for she was right.
Once she stepped into this section of the gardens, Artemis was baffled by all the destruction Ares had caused in one rage session. She, along with all of Olympus, had heard how bad the gardens were due to Ares’s typical violent outburst. This was why Zeus had forbidden anyone from entering the gardens until he said otherwise. This was the reason why they had risen early to get a head start and sneak into the gardens.
However, she didn’t think it was going to be THIS bad.
“Ares, a little advice,” Artemis continued to address her brother. “The next time you want to throw a temper tantrum, do so in the arena. This is just pitiful.”
Ares gritted his teeth and started to growl, but thankfully, he didn’t say anything. Hermes, on the other hand, decided to ignore his sister’s words towards their brother and focused more on the positive side of the beginning conversation.
“So, you did find some tracks, sister?”
“Indeed,” the moon goddess nodded in confirmation, before setting in motion to explain. “It was a bit. . .” Her eyes shifted onto Ares for a brief second, “Difficult, but fortunately for us, I was able to manage.”
She shifted her stance, her body turning to point at the space she was once kneeling in. “Despite my earlier doubts, our brother was not hallucinating.” Artemis’s eyes met the crimson and sky-blue gazes of her brothers as she spoke her next words, “I can confirm that there was indeed another presence here.”
The moment Artemis finished her sentence, the air in the gardens shifted. As if just by this tiny bit of information, pieces of a fractured puzzle began to mend themselves together. The two brothers had two separate reactions to the news.
Hermes was shocked, but an enthusiastic ray of hope soon replaced that shock. That this wasn’t a fool’s errand, and that whoever they were searching for was real. A hope that maybe he and Artemis, helping Ares, wasn’t a fruitless cause. Instead, their mission was showing merit; it might’ve been a small victory. However, it was a victory, nonetheless. The messenger turned to his brother, eyes lit up as if he were a child getting a gift.
Ares’s reaction was something Hermes somewhat expected, but it still took him aback.
While normally, Ares’s crimson gaze held an expression that was as cold as any steel that sat in Hephaestus’s forge. His eyes now were alighting with an emotion that not even he could describe.
Was it hope like with him, or was it something else, something deeper?
That twinkle in his ruby orbs gleamed with something strong, like excitement. Or a victory that seemed bigger than it was. Either way, Ares’s stance relaxed slightly before he swiftly covered it up. Fortunately, that very look stayed in his brothers’ eyes, even when he tried to steal his resolve like hardened iron and mask his emotions like he always did.
Ares hmphed, before crossing his arms, yet the light remained, “Do you have any evidence to share, or are you trying to build suspense?”
“Brother!” Hermes hissed sharply, only for Ares to not even acknowledge his younger brother’s chastising. Ignoring the messenger completely, the war god’s gaze never wavered from the huntress.
“Well?”
Artemis’s jaw ticked, but she didn’t say anything snarky; instead, she turned and took a few steps towards the area she had finished observing. Before she knelt once again in the grass, turning her head slightly, she gestured her hand in a ‘come here’ motion towards her brothers. To which, thankfully, both Hermes AND Ares complied. The war god unfolded his arms and stepped behind his sister on her left, while Hermes did the same but on her right. Looming over her with awaiting eyes and ears to engross in what she had found.
“Look right here, you two,” she spoke, pointing to the small area within the green grass. The two gods leaned over their sister as their gazes were transfixed on what she was pointing to.
The patch of grass was somewhat lusciously green; there were still some patches that were charred from Ares’s six-day-old rampage. Yet it wasn’t the appearance of the grass that caught their attention, but what was imprinted in the grass.
“Footprints,” Hermes said slowly.
Artemis nodded her head, her silver hair moving with her confirming gesture as she launched into explaining to her brothers.
“Indeed, brother. From what I have found thus far, it was at this spot where Ares and the unknown goddess encountered each other that day.”
The goddess of the hunt pointed at the spot where there were two sets of prints. One set was in the perfect shape of a sandal, with the grass flattened and sunken deeply. While with the other set of prints, the grass was also flattened. However, it wasn’t as heavily sunken in as the first set. Instead, it was lightly flattened as if the owner of the set stepped lightly so as not to completely crush the blades of green grass. Along with a small cluster of grass that was still standing up in between a certain part of the footprint. Indicating to Artemis that the other individual was barefoot when they stood here.
“If you, brother, and Ares, kindly direct your gazes towards here,” Artemis said, directing her brothers’ gazes towards the grass spot where the two-foot patterns were, while also taking a jab at her war-happy brother.
A jab that caused Ares’s jaw to twitch, but thankfully, his mouth remained shut, despite the itch for wanting to say something to the huntress. For he realized that hearing what the huntress had to say about the mystery goddess. Outweighed whatever insult that was about to spew pathetically out of his lips.
“From what I have gathered here,” Artemis declared, ready to speak out her observations to her brothers. “These two-foot patterns show who was standing where and who, in fact, the footprints belong to as well. Like here,” Artemis then moved her pointer finger to the deeply sunken set of footprints. “As you can both see here, these footprints belong to our favorite wart hog-”
“I AM NOT A WART HOG! So, do not insult me!” Ares snarled a vein pulsing on his forehead.
“I said favorite, didn’t I?” Artemis responded in a flat tone, steering the conversation back to the original topic. “Anyways, as I was saying. If we return our attention to the prints, as shown, these prints belong to Ares. Mainly, because of the flawless shape induced by our brother’s war sandals. That and…” Artemis let out a small smirk. “Our dearest brother is so heavy-footed that it is no wonder why the grass was crushed beneath his heel. Putting further evidence in place that these prints belong to a male.”
Hermes clapped and whistled, amazed once again by his sister’s prowess. While Ares, on the other hand, did not elicit such praise. Alas, that didn’t mean he wasn’t mildly impressed.
“What about the other set?” Ares gruffly asked, translating along the lines of him saying instead. ‘What about her set?’
Artemis’s midnight blue gaze flicked to her brother for a second but then focused back upon the ground below.
“The other set, brother, I have concurred, belongs to your goddess of mystery. Due to the obvious appearance of the foot patterns.” At his sister’s words, Ares straightened. The war god’s focus was now heavily trained on his sister, as she shared her findings.
“Notice here, how the indentations of the foot are light. Clearly female, since there is pure lightness to the steps. It was almost as if she didn’t want to overpower the blades, which thus led to the blades responding to her desires. By lying down, she can step on like a cushion, rather than being crushed and trampled. Like the other set.”
The moon goddess slowly stood up, taking one last look at the patterns before turning to address her brothers.
“With the extra blades of grass that were left untouched, it was very likely that they were between something. Meaning that the only way for that to happen is to conclude that your goddess’s feet were bare.”
Ares scoffed and rolled his eyes, “I could’ve told you that. I did see her after all. What I want to know is what else did you find? Outside of the information I already knew.”
Artemis scowled at her brother, but a glance from Hermes made the goddess withhold any comment that would’ve started brawl. So, instead the huntress decided to pull out the other piece of evidence she found.
A single strand of pure white hair.
Ares’s breath caught in his throat as his sister presented the strand. He recognized that color, that shine as the sun hit it through the trees. It was hers.
“Where did you find that?” Ares asked his voice slightly heavier than normal.
Artemis, ever the sharp hunter, didn’t miss Ares’s reaction to the single strand of hair. The way his eyes lit up and his body tense, as his gaze never left the small delicate item that swayed gently from her hand.
“Well, brother, while you and Hermes were busy mindlessly chatting away earlier. That was when this little strand caught my attention.” Artemis then moved to the side, so her brothers could see from beyond the spot where they were standing. “Do you see that crushed marigold flower over there? That is where I had found the strand of the goddess’s hair.” The goddess confirmed.
Once his sister finished speaking briefly on where and how she acquired the strand of hair. A memory of that day triggered in Ares’s mind.
For Ares, it seemed the world had faded away, and he was plunged back in time, back to the day he had met her. After she calmed him, she walked over to the destroyed patch of flowers and knelt gently on the ground. Mourning something so small, so precious, all the while turning her back to war as if he wasn’t even a threat to her. A motion that would’ve caused Ares’s immediate ire at the show of disrespect to his power.
Yet it didn’t.
Maybe it was because her powers were circling through him at the time, her calming aura still attached to him, causing him to refuse to retaliate. Or was it because her unexpected presence intrigued him so much that he couldn’t do anything but stand and watch her?
Ares found himself increasingly absorbed by his recollections of that day, allowing his thoughts to drift further into memory. Meanwhile, on the outside, his siblings were looking at him like he was broken.
“What’s wrong with him?” Hermes whispered to his sister, the god’s baby-blue eyes shining with confusion, along with hints of concern for his brother.
“You're asking me?” The goddess questioned incredulously.
“Yes!” Hermes whispered, yelled back. “Because you’re the one who broke him!”
“I did not break him!” The huntress said, defending herself. “All I just did was show him a strand of hair; it’s on him how he acts towards the situation.” Artemis then placed a hand on her hip, tilting her head to the side. “If you care so much, you snap him out of it.”
Hermes gave his sister an expression of disbelief, while Artemis’s face remained unchanged.
After a few seconds, the messenger god breathed out a heavy sigh before addressing his sister. “You are one heartless goddess, you know that?”
“Not like I am ashamed, now go.”
Not wanting to argue with her any further, Hermes gave one last (playful) glare to Artemis before slowly approaching his brother.
“Hey Ares,” Hermes gently called out, before placing a light hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Are you alright?”
Once he felt the weight of his brother’s hand on his shoulder, Ares swiftly snapped out of whatever trance he was in. The memories that played through his mind abruptly stopped the moment he felt a touch outside of his mental scape.
Ares blinked, “Yes…” He then coughed, before fixing his composure. Adjusting his stance to stand tall and proud, his aura brimming with his usual arrogance. “Yes, Hermes, I am fine, now remove your hand from me,” the war finished with a scowl upon his face and harshly jerked his shoulder away from his younger sibling’s touch. Causing said younger sibling to frown at his brother’s reaction to his concern.
The war god, however, didn’t seem to care much for his harsh reaction towards his half-brother. Instead, Ares was mentally kicking himself for being stupid enough to let his guard down in front of his siblings. Over a single string of hair, no less!
It wasn’t normal, and if he were completely honest with himself. He hasn’t been feeling ‘normal’ ever since he met the clouded-eyed goddess in the gardens.
Ares is the embodiment of war.
Ares, the pillar of courage.
Ares, the shaper of warlords and commander of armies.
The same Ares, who was subsequently subdued by the simplest touch of the hand from a goddess no one knew. Or has even seen, until now.
Mainly, to him, there were only a few things that could cause Ares to submit, but not without him fighting his hardest to keep standing. Ares was, in fact, very stubborn, and he would never submit to anyone willingly.
He would always prefer to go down fighting the hard way, rather than take an easier or more practical path.
That was what made him Ares.
Yet all the same, this goddess with a touch so featherlight it felt as if he were floating. This same goddess carried the scent of fresh and calming lavender when her influence swept through the air. Making his posture slump and relax in a way he never thought. That same goddess, whose words twisted his very soul with a voice as beautiful as any gentle melody, as it weaved its way through his mind. A goddess whose beauty paused his whole world and filled it with light.
It was this goddess of mystery that continued to turn his mind inside-out and made his world change its constant rotation in his everyday life. Causing Ares to feel things that he never meant to feel, nor had cause to start reflecting.
‘What is happening to me?’ He had mentally wondered while continuing to put up a front with his siblings.
Shaking his head, Ares turned away from Hermes, not even going to acknowledge his brother’s growing concern for him, and proceeded to face a very bored-looking Artemis.
“Alright, so you found a strand of hair,” Ares said, crossing his arms, his expression not as hard as it usually was. “What of it?” Ares inquired, accompanied by a slight shrug of his shoulders, maintaining an expression that conveyed mild disinterest.
“What of it?” Artemis’s face gave an incredulous look towards her brother. “What this is, is proof that your goddess is in fact real, and that this wild goose chase you lead us on is worth something! Yet all you can say is ‘What of it?!’”
“Indeed, sister, because unlike you, I don’t need small amounts of proof to know when something is real. Since I have already seen her, I don’t need evidence to prove myself right.”
Artemis’s midnight blue eyes narrowed at her brother, while Hermes let out another exhausted sigh.
“Need I remind you once more, brother?” the goddess growled, her patience with the war god wearing extremely thin. “That you are the only one out of the three of us who has gazed upon this goddess with your own two eyes. Honestly, you could be the only person who has ever actually seen her on Olympus.” Artemis then held up the hair strand, practically shoving it into her brother’s face. “This little shred of evidence that you so swiftly want to dismiss is the only proof we have that this task is even worth something. Otherwise, all Hermes and I must go by your word. Which, in the past, was not something we could easily trust.”
Grabbing his hand, Artemis not so delicately placed the strand in her brother’s palm. Her midnight eyes met his crimson, her face set to stone, while Ares’s face appeared to be almost disgusted that his bastard sister was touching him.
“This is the only thing you possess of your goddess,” her eyes burned into his deeply. “Do not dismiss it so callously just because it’s a lock of hair. You might not ever find her, and this is all you have to prove to us and yourself that she is real. Despite you already knowing this, at least you have a reminder of what you are doing all this for.”
With nothing else left to say, Artemis removed her hands from her brother before being pulled away by Hermes to talk privately.
Ares did not care what the two were whispering about just a few feet away from him, even though normally he would. Howbeit, the war god couldn’t help but ponder the words of his sister. In a way, she was, in fact, right. Although he has seen the goddess’s visage for himself with his own eyes. It was highly plausible that he was truly the only one to have seen her, to have met her. A conclusion that both Artemis and Hermes have pointed out to him repeatedly.
Apart from that, Artemis was also right about the hair strand. It was the only shred of evidence, the only thing that belonged to… Her. Yet he was so quick to turn it away because… Why?
Was it because he felt like the evidence wasn’t enough? Did it need to be something big, something grand, to capture his attention?
Was it because it wasn’t the sign from the goddess he was looking for, like the calming scent of luscious Lavender carried on the wind? Or was it because that same touch of peace that accompanied it failed to be there?
What was his reason for turning this hair strand away, when it was all he had of her?
Maybe it was because it wasn’t her that made him want to turn it away. Even though he held a piece of her, it wasn’t her. The goddess of his dreams, the one who calmed him, confused him. The one who kissed him tenderly on his cheek and called him love. A goddess that somehow fit into him perfectly, as she belonged there from the beginning. A goddess that made him secretly yearn for her without him even realizing it, or even if he did, he was denying it. For the great Ares does not yearn.
Yet this goddess was the one who pleaded with him to find her wherever she may be. He should’ve ignored it, but something was driving every bone in his body to find her, something that he couldn’t ignore.
Clenching his fist, he realized that his sister was indeed right, and if he didn’t have his pride to think about. Ares would’ve almost thanked the huntress for preventing a massive mistake on his part.
‘This was the first step,’ his mind exclaimed. ‘This is the first step to finding answers, however small it may be. At least it’s a step closer than the countless steps back that you’ve could have taken.’ Ares raised his eyes, and they landed on his siblings, who were still conversing amongst each other. The war god watched them as his inner thoughts resurfaced again. ‘If it wasn’t for Artemis, you would have never found the lock of the goddess’s hair or even learned about the footprints. Nonetheless, without Hermes’s insistent need to help, Artemis would never have even joined in the first place. You need them, so stop being an ass and cooperate.’
Closing his eyes, Ares took a deep breath inward before exhaling slowly. Opening his eyes, the war god opened his palm to stare at the strand again, before tucking it safely in the gauntlet on his left arm. Once he was sure the evidence was safe, he strode over towards his half-siblings.
At the sound of his approaching steps, Artemis and Hermes ceased their conversation as they shifted to face their brother.
Silence swirled between the three for a few fleeting moments before Ares decided to break it.
“You…” Ares started his gaze, meeting his sister’s, “You were right.”
Hermes’s jaw dropped at Ares’s words. Never in the messenger’s life has he ever heard his brother admit that one of them was right about something, especially Artemis.
The huntress in question had a look of shock at first, before it twisted into a smug, satisfied smirk.
“Oh, I am right, aren’t I? Please do tell brother, how I am indeed right?”
Ares had to strongly resist the urge to growl or even sneer at his bastard sister. It was already hurting his pride by admitting he was wrong about something, but to also admit that a bastard of his father’s was right. It was truly having a significant impact on his ego.
“You were right, sister,” he pushed out the sentence through gritted teeth.
“About?” Artemis said, concededly, causing Ares to become increasingly annoyed.
“The hair strand,” he finished. Despite Ares’s brief answer, Artemis wasn’t satisfied; she wanted Ares to not only admit he was wrong, but to explain why it was so. So, Artemis did the next best thing a little sister could do; she pressed.
“The hair strand, hmm, I am going to need a little more of an… Explanation, then that brother,” the goddess of the moon said smugly.
Hermes’s head snapped to his sister, and for once his usually amused expression was nowhere to be seen as he gave a disapproving stare towards his sister, “Artemis! Sister! Don’t, not now.” He hissed towards her, but Artemis gave no mind to his protests.
“I want to hear your answer, brother, nothing fake or simple. I want a real answer,” her gaze never left the war god’s. Ares continued to match his lowly sister’s gaze as well, as the god of war, Ares, never backed down from a challenge, even though this was bait from his sister. A challenge was still a challenge.
“Sister! Please cease this! It’s not helping, it’s harming, and our brother-”
“It’s fine, Hermes,” Ares said, cutting off his brother’s oncoming need to defend him. “Our sister wants to hear a real answer from me, then fine.” Ares’s crimson orbs stared down into Artemis’s midnight ones as the goddess’s eyes held an indifference in her gaze. However, the huntress also held a deep intrigue at the anticipation of what her brother was going to say. Meanwhile, Hermes couldn’t help but hold a nervous breath, secretly praying to the fates that nothing escalated in the wrong way. Something he was surely going to have to mediate or fix, or both.
But for now, both siblings remained silent, waiting (nervously on Hermes’s part) for what their brother had to say.
“You were right,” Ares said, almost as if he were in pain the moment he started to vocalize the truth that was rapidly damaging his so-called pride. “You were right about all of this. The hair strand. The mission. Even my connection to this goddess, whatever damning connection it might be, and you were right.” The war god gave a huff that sounded as close to a laugh as anything they were ever going to get.
“And while I hate to admit it, and the fates know I damn well do,” Ares continued, raking a hand through his onyx hair. “I need your help, Artemis, both you and Hermes’ help. Because without it, I am doomed to be stuck on the same path as when I started.” Ares took a breath, his eyes never wavering from his siblings. “Despite my shortcomings and despite my pride. I refuse to keep staring down the many forks in my path that dare to mock me. So, even though I care little for this, I will finally and temporarily put aside my grievances to allow your help.”
Ares stepped up to Artemis again, glowering down at the goddess of the hunt. His lips faintly curled into a disgusted sneer at his next set of words that he knew would satisfy his sadistic sister.
“Congratulations, sister. I was wrong, and you were right. You have won this battle on this day. Happy?”
Artemis’s eyes narrowed towards her brother the moment he finished speaking. The huntress’s trained ears listened intently as her brother’s words tumbled from his lips. Her brain was working hard to dissect each sentence and to uncover any sort of hidden motive or, gods forbid, a concealed insult somewhere within the war god’s dialect. When she found none, the goddess allowed herself to relax her posture as a mocking and extremely satisfied grin spread slowly across her divine features.
Much to Ares’s equally extreme discomfort.
“Indeed, brother, I am very happy. In fact, I am downright over the moon at this,” the moon goddess exclaimed enthusiastically, clearly not bothering to hide her growing giddiness. Which was something that annoyed, but mainly unnerved Ares. While Hermes’s previous nervousness was replaced by his usual whimsy.
The silver-haired goddess then approached her elder half-brother, and with the sheer audacity she could muster. Gave Ares a hard pat on the back in mock comfort, her smile ever growing along with Ares’s irritation.
“I must thank you for your honesty, brother,” the goddess commented. “It couldn’t have been easy to admit something as throwing away the only thing that made you extremely hateable.” Artemis then paused at her words, before shaking her head and continuing onwards, “Correction, we temporarily got rid of one of the many things that make you detestable. But we’ll work on it.”
“I swear if I weren’t relying on your help, I would throw you into the nearest tree,” Ares mildly threatened.
“You could, but you won’t. As you said yourself, you need our help, and I plan to do just that. Help.” Artemis smirked while walking away towards the exit of the area that they were in, “Besides, I plan on basking in my victory against you for as long as I can spare until this is over. So, come on, boys, we still have work to do.”
With that, Artemis left ahead, taking charge, leaving both Hermes and Ares in the destroyed area. The two divine sons of Zeus stood there with different expressions marring their faces.
Ares couldn’t believe the sheer disrespect his sister had shown him. Of course, this has happened many times before, but strangely, this time it felt less like a call for battle, a need for conflict. Instead, it secretly felt like playful banter between two siblings. Something that Ares never really experienced, but was it really that or something else he had yet to figure out?
Meanwhile, Hermes’s mirth had returned after those intense few moments with his usually bullheaded siblings. They were always on the brink of battling each other, so it seemed they could never stand to be in the same vicinity. Much less to be in the other’s presence for so long to be able to work together. Nonetheless, Hermes had a strong feeling that despite his earlier doubts, things between his siblings, more so Ares. Were slowly looking up, and even this mission was turning out for the better. Only time would tell, and he felt like it was coming soon.
All they had to do was wait and see.
***
Ares and Hermes met up with their sister again, not long after she left them at the entrance of the ruined area of the gardens, before they discussed their next course of action.
Strictly speaking, their main step was left before they took on the daunting task of asking around about Ares’s goddess of mystery. Artemis suggested to the two gods that she wanted to at least attempt to follow the goddess’s previous path into the gardens to gather some further evidence on her, or rather, to find exactly where the goddess appeared on Olympus. If they found out that piece of information, it could lead them even further towards her and could potentially be a common landing spot for her in the near future.
Hermes, of course, expressed his immediate agreement towards the plan in hyperactive enthusiasm. Ares just gave a nod and a grunt, which was better than nothing. At least their war-hardened brother was finally attempting to cooperate with them now.
So, a win was a win. Even in the smallest of moments.
Not long after the plan was officially formed, Artemis asked Ares for some insight on which direction the goddess had come from. Causing Ares to in turn, to comb through his memories of that day yet again. To which he didn’t mind, but it did in fact make the situation a bit harder, since the majority of that first meeting was him blindly raging for the entirety of Olympus to witness.
Even though the memory seemed still fresh in his mind, some parts were still obscured. Pieces of a missing puzzle that he needed to locate to lead him closer to the set goal.
Thankfully, not all was in vain for Ares, despite not being able to remember where exactly the clouded-eyed maidan came from. The god of war did slightly remember in which direction the goddess had left him.
To which, by mere coincidence, was the same path our divine trio found themselves on. Leaving Artemis to do what she did best.
Track.
Shifting her weight, Artemis kneeled to the dirt path below, her tan fingertips gently placing themselves upon the earthly terrain. The feeling of the ground sends a tingling sensation through her divine form. She was in her element.
The element of a hunter.
Soon, divine energy crackled through the area as Artemis used her talents to see the path the strange goddess walked. The silver-haired huntress’s eyes glowed silver, the color covered her pupils and spread to the retinas, and her hand that was settled on the dirt path glowed in equal light. While her hair floated slightly in the non-existent wind, she concentrated on the task at hand.
Working effectively and efficiently, Artemis was able to reveal the path in a matter of seconds.
Unlike her brothers, who currently stood behind her, watching her movements with intense fascination. The goddess of the moon was able to envision an actual footprinted path that highlighted the target’s footprints in the moon-silver glow of her divinity.
A path that flowed to the northwest side of the gardens.
After a few more seconds of analyzing the pathway, the silvery glow of the huntress’s divine power dissipated. Her eyes returned to their normal shade of midnight blue, and her hand also returned to the way it was before. Rising from her kneeling position, she turned to her brothers with a triumphant smirk that only a true and talented hunter had the honor to hold.
“Let us go, brothers,” she said confidently. “Our discovered path is leading us ever closer,” Artemis’s gaze shifted to Ares for a moment before addressing her eldest half-brother. “Hopefully, this will lead you closer than you were before you started.”
Once she was done speaking, Artemis turned on her heel, silently leading the way down the path again, not bothering to wait for Ares’s response. While Hermes hung back with his brother and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“Do not worry, brother, with Artemis finding the path and our gathered information. As little as it may be. You are one step closer, we, I mean, you will find her.” With a gentle smile only, a supportive brother could give, Hermes trailed away behind their sister, leaving Ares to his thoughts.
Truly, with how everything was going today, Ares himself couldn’t believe how far he had gotten. Despite the very rocky start to the morning, with tensions between him and Artemis running at an all-time high. Along with the minimal amount of information, they obtained about the clouded-eyed goddess.
The war god started to believe that his efforts were not going to be in vain and that his mission to find the goddess wasn’t going to be all for not. Slowly, Ares began to believe his brother’s words; he would find her, and in doing so, Ares could also seek answers. Answers as to why she had helped him. Answers as to why he is so desperately drawn to her when he truly only met her once. Answers as to why his dreams plagued him with her and a life, a bond that appeared straight out of an impossible fantasy.
Why is he being pulled towards a being he didn’t know, but at the same time, he did? Why is he the embodiment of war chasing after a dream, and why won’t he refuse to let it be?
Following his siblings, Ares reached the end of their supposed path, viewing the sight of Artemis once again kneeling upon the ground, tracing a certain spot several times in the dirt. Hermes stood, if not hovering, as she did her work.
Ares watched as the huntress’s lips were taught in concentration, appearing as if she were frowning, but that was quite the opposite.
“Have you found anything?” The question tumbled gruffly from the war god’s lips, a question that carried the weight of curiosity and anticipation rather than demand.
Artemis gave a brief side-eye to her brother before standing from her position on the ground to face her eldest brother.
“Interesting way to greet someone, Ares, but I will let it slide for now,” she said while clapping the dirt off her hands. “Fortunately for us, I have indicated that your first time meeting this goddess of yours. Was indeed in fact the first time she had ever set foot on Olympus.”
At their sister’s words, both Hermes and Ares raised their brows in mild surprise at the revelation their sister had just given.
“What exactly do you mean by this, sister?” Hermes responded, prompting Artemis to gesture to the scenery around them.
When Artemis had followed the path towards the area where her brother’s goddess had appeared. Her divine magic had taken her to a center section of the gardens, where there stood a marvelous water fountain that poured crystal clear water from its spouts.
The sounds coming from the steady stream were causing the gardens to feel even more tranquil than they already were. While also being the main point that connected three more pathways that went in separate directions.
“Well, at first I didn’t immediately conclude that this unexpected visit of the goddess was her first time here,” the huntress admitted. “Surely, considering the location of this area, it would be a grand point to appear. It is quiet, doesn’t draw too much attention, and it is a neutral place to suddenly appear in. Although it also fails to make sense when it comes to wanting to be fully discreet.”
Ares’s crimson eyes narrowed at Artemis's explanation, his piercing gaze darting slowly around the sectioned area in the gardens. His mind failing to see what his sister could, “I fail to see how this place,” he then waved a dismissive hand around. “Could not be as ‘discreet’ as you make it out to be.”
Hermes nodded in agreement, “Even though I am normally a keen observer. Even I am lost on this. Surely, this would be the right spot for a goddess to appear if she wanted to go unnoticed. Right?”
The divine huntress then shook her head negatively, “At first it would seem so, until you actually think about the location here and the goddess’s desired motive.”
“Motive?” The question came from Ares this time.
“Think about it, brother,” Artemis addressed him. “If you were in your goddess’s place -”
“She isn’t my goddess.”
“Sure, anyways,” the huntress replied dismissively, causing Ares to scowl and roll his eyes, and Hermes to snicker behind his hand. “It was clear from the beginning that her appearance here was one of secrecy. Since this location is secluded to an extent, she could calmly arrive without a grand affair. An assuming, quiet goddess would want an equally serene place to land. On the surface, it seems that way, until I saw the markings on the path. Plus, the position where she appeared and this key spot in question made me guess that this was, in fact, her first time here. Or just flashing in general.”
“Flashing in general?” Ares questioned, folding his arms across his chest. “How so?”
Tipping her head, Artemis nodded towards the spot she had just finished examining. “Well, first off, if this was a recurring thing with her. This spot in the ground would’ve been worn due to the many times she appeared in. However, it is not; instead, it’s fresh, a newly swept-up part of the ground. Plus, the landing doesn’t look too graceful, as it would seem she might have stumbled a bit before righting. Hinting that it was her first time doing something like this,” Artemis concluded. Causing her brothers to become increasingly impressed by her discovery.
“Secondly,” she continued. “The location of where she appeared,” the goddess waved her arms around the area. “Isn’t the perfect place to show up in if one were truly trying to remain hidden. It’s not fully unfrequented, since the fountain here acts as a center point for four different ways upon the path. Which means that this place would be a common area for anyone to pass through and see her when she came in. And don’t even let me mention how the trees and bushes are not even close enough to shield her from any onlookers.”
The goddess finished with a sigh, turning to Ares.
“All in all, I say, this goddess you're looking for made a spontaneous decision to come here without a proper plan and just got extremely lucky. Only to ruin it, the moment she encountered you.”
“So, you’re saying this is my fault?” Ares snarled.
The huntress rolled her eyes, “Negative on that assumption of yours, brother. I am just contending with the clear verity that this goddess had the intention of remaining hidden in the shadows. Until she was coaxed into exposing herself due to your actions.”
“She definitely thinks it’s your fault; she is just being nice about it,” snarked Hermes with a grin.
Artemis’s mouth twitched upward at her trickster brother’s words, showing her mild amusement. Ares’s jaw clenched at the swift god’s remark. The truth of the matter is clawing its way up the conversation despite being denied.
“Oh, silence you,” Artemis chided her young brother. Only for Hermes to return her irritation with laughter.
“As if you could on any normal day,” Hermes said, then zoomed over to Artemis, darting around her playfully. “I am too swift for you to catch, dearest sister; you would grow tired after a day of trying to match my pace.”
“Oh, yeah?” She raised her eyebrow in challenge, “Let us see how swift you are when those infernal shoes are off.” She pointed towards his famous winged sandals, “I bet you aren’t as swift as even my fast fawn without them.”
“I digress, even without my sandals, and could still run laps around both of you.”
“I would love to see that happen.”
“I fail to see how this pertains to finding the goddess, which, last I checked, is why we are even here in the first place,” vocalized a very unimpressed Ares. Causing the two gods to cease whatever further banter that was about to occur between them.
“It doesn’t,” the reply came from a mirthful Hermes, who was completely unbothered by his brother’s apparent attitude.
“Then why are we having this pointless discussion?”
“It is amusing, that’s why,” Hermes said joyfully, before pointing a finger in his brother’s direction. “And because I am right.”
Ares gave his brother a deadpanned look, the war god seriously starting to question if seeking the help of his moronic bastard siblings was a grand idea after all.
Rubbing a hand down his face, with an exhausted sigh upon his pale lips, Ares proceeded to address his party.
“Enough with the games, Hermes,” his words sounding like a plea, almost. “This childish argument isn’t speeding this along anytime soon, so cease it.” Ares had finished, blood red eyes bored into the trickster’s baby blues. Resulting in Hermes raising his hands in mock surrender.
“Noted, brother.”
“Now, Artemis,” Ares turned his attentions to the huntress immediately after. “I commend you, sister, for your job well done, and that is praise I don’t give to anyone, so savor it while you still can.”
The goddess’s eyebrow quirked slightly at his words.
“Either way, we are now on the right track,” Ares stated, glancing around the open space. “Whether it was my fault or not that this goddess exposed herself, the damage has been done, and she is now known to us. And thanks to you, sister, we now know that this was indeed her first time here on Olympus. Which rules out the suspicion that she has been here before and might be seeking ill-intention.”
‘Thank the fates,’ Ares mentally praised.
“Correction,” Artemis intruded. “While I did say that your meeting with your goddess was her first time on Olympus. We still do not have a clear enough idea of whether she is as innocent as you think. She could still be dangerous, unless you ask her yourself and she tells you otherwise. There is still the possibility that you will not even be able to meet her today or maybe at all.”
“You don’t know that to be true, sister.”
“And neither do you, brother,” Artemis had countered. “All I am saying is that we should play our cards right. Currently, we are walking blindly about the situation regarding this maidan’s true intentions. My advice would be to gather more information before fully advancing in mindless theories.”
As she spoke, Ares couldn’t help but helplessly consider the argument his sister was steadily trying to press his way, and he hated how much sense she was beginning to make. While the goddess did calm him that day in the gardens, easing his troubled mind and heart. There was still the hanging idea in the air that this goddess was unknown to them all. Making her an object of suspicion rather than pure innocence. Giving probable cause as to why they should be more cautious in their set task.
Yet for some reason, Ares could fathom the idea of this goddess being dangerous.
That goddess whose face held a soft innocence that countered his rugged exterior. The soothing, gentle touch her hands left upon his face that day left a permanent mark, as he could still feel them like he had the day she placed them there. That very same goddess who warmed his dreams with light and belonging. Dreams that had him questioning himself and his thoughts as she was showing him a better path.
A goddess that he still somehow refuses to call under scrutiny or to hold ill thoughts towards. For some reason, deep within him, he knew she wasn’t capable of something or anything nefarious.
‘What is happening to me?’ Ares mentally questioned.
“Just a random thought here, but…” Hermes voiced a loud gaining the attention of his half-siblings. “Do we truly believe that this is, this goddess’s first time here?”
“What?” Ares had asked.
“What do you mean Hermes?” The question came from Artemis this time.
“Do not get me wrong, sister, I am not doubting your observation and tracking skills,” the messenger god said defending himself. “Although, what if this goddess has been here before, but this was her first appearing in this spot. Like maybe she didn’t mean to appear here, since whenever we flash anywhere, we need to visualize where we need or want to be. But thanks to Ares, we know the goddess is blind so, she probably had it in her mind to appear in a secluded enough place to stay hidden. Yet, because she doesn’t have a clear enough picture, she landed in a more fitting but unpredictable and unexpected spot. Hence why her path started here.”
After Hermes finished speaking Ares and Artemis were silent for a moment, their minds processing the logic behind his words before groaning as they had another variable to deal with.
“Damn it, Hermes, why?!” Ares barked out.
“It was just an observation, don’t go blaming me!”
Artemis gave a heavy sigh, “This is maddening. Why didn’t I think of that, it makes perfect sense too.”
“Great, just great, now we have something else to contend with thanks to you, Hermes. As if our task wasn’t difficult enough. Now you have gone and said this, Tartarus, brother, why?!” Ares growled loudly, slightly pacing along the path, looking as if he was ready to tear his onyx hair out by the roots.
“Will you stop being so over dramatic, Ares,” Artemis said with an eye roll. “As annoying as this new idea is to our investigation. It is a possible theory, an annoying one, but a good one and could be the most likely to be right.”
“Hear! Hear! Sister,” Hermes chimed in enthusiastically. “Besides, we all agreed at the beginning the after exploring the garden. Then we would go around Olympus to discreetly ask the pantheon of her whereabouts or if anyone else has seen her other than you. So, what is there to really worry about here?”
“Everything!”
“Like what?”
“Well…” Ares had started, but his mind quickly drew to a blank.
“Exactly what I thought, you don’t know,” snarked the huntress. Prompting Ares to huff and turn his head away like he was spoiled child being told no.
“Tch!”
At his brother’s reaction, Hermes started to chuckle under his breath, but before he could open his mouth to speak. A loud guttural sound vibrated throughout the surrounding area, drawing the attention of the divine sibling trio.
“What in Tartarus was that?” Ares asked, unfolding his arms, as he and Artemis glanced around for the strange sound. Only the mystery didn’t last too long for the sound to come again, but this time in the direction of a blushing Hermes.
Who was clutching his stomach laughing awkwardly at the stares he was getting from the other two gods.
“Heh! Heh! Well, we did come here first thing and usually I at least would have had at least a Moussaka by now,” Hermes then rubbed his head sheepishly.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Ares muttered, while facepalming.
“You both insisted, some more than others,” Hermes side-eyed his brother, earning a glare from Ares. “That we meet first thing at dawn. So, I am sorry my stomach decided to remind me that I am in desperate need of food. Just like I know you both are.”
Ares let out a snort at his brother’s words, “Save us from your growing excuses brother.”
“How exactly is hunger an excuse?” Artemis asked, eyebrow lifting.
“Because Artemis, we gods don’t truly need food it is just a comfort for us, we all know this. So, Hermes can easily put aside his need for a honey biscuit or another, for a day.”
Artemis and Hermes gave Ares an incredulous look, “You’re not serious, are you?” The question coming from the goddess of the moon.
“Of course, I am serious,” Ares shot back. “Unlike you two, I can stand a single morning or two without any -”
GROWL!
A monstrous sound echoed even louder than the one Hermes gave off, and this time it came from Ares’s direction. The suddenness of the sound cut the war god off and casted the gardens into silence. For a few moments no one said anything, as the only sound that continued to flow through the gardens was the trickling of the water in the garden fountain.
After a few more beats of silence, it was broken by the uncontrollable laughter of Artemis and Hermes.
Seeing his siblings laughing at him, an unexpected blush spread across his cheeks.
“Now, what exactly were you saying about surviving without food again, brother?” The mocking question came from Artemis. “Because I can assure you that whatever that was it wasn’t a snarling chimera.”
“Don’t be that way sister, at least a chimera knows when it needs to feast. Unlike, certain war gods, who would like to remain in denial.”
“WILL YOU BOTH CEASE YOUR MOCKERY!?” Ares roared trying to save face and ignoring the blush that was continuing to spread.
“Oh, we would, if you weren’t so easy, brother,” Artemis conveyed while still laughing.
For the next few agonizing minutes, Ares had to watch helplessly while listening to his siblings laugh and mock him for his unexpected misstep. Soon, Hermes had managed to calm himself enough to finally address his brother.
“Oh, brother! You are an absolute riot,” the son of Zeus declared wiping away a tear from his eye. “But all jokes aside, I suggest that we should replenish ourselves, then continue onward. It would be wise to have our minds and stomachs settled, before going around asking about Ares’s goddess. What say you sister?”
Artemis, who has also calmed down, but still had a brood smile upon her face, gave a single nod.
“I find no argument in that logic, little brother. We only need the hungry chimera to agree. Right, Ares?”
The god in question had to resist the urge to snarl and snap at his siblings. Howbeit, Hermes had a point. There was no doubt that their mission would take all day and would require all their energy and efforts. Without the proper nutrients and replenishment, their mission would drag them down. Not by much of course, but enough to feel its negative effects. Although, if they followed Hermes’s suggestion to eat before continuing. Their quest to find the mystery goddess might go more smoothly than it would be without it.
After a few more minutes of pondering the idea, Ares sighed in defeat before nodding silently.
With Ares’s approval, Hermes pumped a fist in the air, a wide grin forming on his face.
“Brillant! Come siblings, the day grows brighter and a feast awaits us. Thank the Fates, I know the perfect place for us to break our fast. Let’s go.” Hermes then walked off in his desired direction, practically buzzing.
Artemis chuckled while shaking her head and following her brother, with a mildly unamused Ares following close behind.
As the morning grew brighter and Olympus started to wake with the growing dawn. The divine siblings didn’t know it yet, but they were growing ever the closer. Not just towards the goddess of mystery.
A/N: Hey everyone, so finally we have the tenth chapter of 'Blind Love and Silent Hearts.' Sorry this chapter took so long, I personally have been having health issues recently. Like I literally just got home yesterday, from being in the hospital for two weeks. However, I am doing better now. I do want to apologize in advance if this chapter wasn't as great as the others. But it is what it is. Anyway, be prepared, because our favorite goddess of the hearth is making her grand appearance next chapter. Once again thank you for reading and see you guys' next time.
PS: I never mentioned which version of BOZ Ares I was using in the story for now, is Season 2, Episode 3 Ares where he had that mohawk. Picture down below!
Running Out of Time - (Dick Grayson x Sick! Reader)
Summary: Dick Greyson is rushing his way to see someone and hopefully he gets there on time. However sometimes running out of time doesn't always mean running late.
‘Come on. Come on. Come on.’ The man mumbled in his mind impatiently waiting on the other side of the crosswalk. Trapped in a mini sea of people who were also waiting for the light to change from a ruby red stop hand to a bright white walking man.
Richard Dick Grayson glanced at his watch for what would be seen as the seventh time that evening, hoping that the hour wasn’t too late.
7:42 pm
The time read, meaning he had at least 18 minutes left before he was officially late. And not only that but his destination was just a few more blocks away. Staring at the street once more, Dick could clearly see that the notorious Gotham traffic was still as heavy as before.
The nightlife of the city was not unusual for the 24-year-old. Car horns blaring, people shouting, and tone death music blasting from either the cars or the occupants on the sidewalk.
If he wasn’t irritated before, he definitely was now.
For with every consistent blasting noise of speakers to the yelling of the local Gotham residents stuck in traffic. It was really making it very hard for him to even think straight.
Dick then once again lifted his wrist to check his watch.
7:46 pm
Looking at the time, the man let out an agonizing groan.
‘God,’ he silently prayed. ‘If only you could let time stop. Or at least slow down gradually, very gradually.’
As he waited for the walking man, Dick looked back through his memories wondering where it all went wrong.
***
Honestly, he had no one to blame but himself in this situation. It was his idea to stay just one more hour on a case he was working on with Bruce, before handing his patrol shift over to Steph and Damian. (He, of course, having to convince them that he would buy them lunch for the next week. As well as relinquishing his portion of desserts for the next two months). By then it took a good, 30 minutes to shower, change, and (In which case he accidentally put way too much on) cologne.
When he was done the clock read 5:53 pm.
Noticing the time he quickly asked Luke for a quick lift to the Northwest side of Gotham (In which he was going to patrol anyway). The flight took an easy 15 minutes, but because it would
raise some suspicions amongst the city goers of Gotham that one of its beloved vigilantes was giving a personal Uber to one of the Wayne kids. It would’ve drawn up several raised eyebrows.
So of course, he had to be dropped off a few blocks away from his acquired destination, and by a “few” it was more like 15. Turning an easy of what could’ve been an 18-minute walk. Into a 28-minute walk. Landing his time then on the clock from 6:08 pm, (The time he landed in the alleyway). To 6:18 pm by the time he passed up several different streets.
It was in fact easy, perhaps a bit too easy, one might think. However, that idea was the furthest thing from the man’s mind at that moment. If he makes it before eight, he should be just fine besides whatever could go wrong.
Long story short. Things went wrong. Completely wrong.
It first happened at 6:26 pm as Dick was heading down the street. On the way while following his route in a part of downtown Gotham.
While walking, he spotted a quaint little flower shop on a nearby street corner. The sign read, ‘Little Shop of Wonders Gardening.’ Now, Dick was a bit skeptical of the shop, since he has had a bad encounter with plant shops before. But when he observed it further, he found out quickly that the shop was an ordinary shop and thought that maybe he should get some flowers before continuing onward. Making up his mind, he quickly crossed to the other side of the street where the shop was and walked inside.
It was here in this shop were things started to spiral downwards for Dick.
After he picked out the perfect flowers, he quickly headed to the register to pay for his bouquet which contained (F/F) and (S/F/F).
As he was waiting in line, a loud bang vibrated throughout the store.
Dick’s azure eyes darted to the noise, and he didn’t like what he was seeing. Standing at the front of the store were three big burly men in masks. Their whole attire was black.
Black boots.
Black shirts.
Black gloves.
Black jackets, leather or not, you name it.
The only thing that wasn’t black was surprisingly their masks. The middle guy had a mask that looked like a cow. The guy on his left had a Shrek mask and the man on the middle guy’s right was a wearing a…Bugs Bunny mask? Alright, other than the criminals’ questionable fashion choices there was one thing that was for sure. These fashionably challenged thugs were armed and extremely dangerous.
As quickly as they entered the shop. The men pointed their guns at the small crowd and started barking out orders like; ‘Nobody move’ or ‘Hands up,’ and of course the classic like, ‘Give us anything you own, and nobody gets hurt.’ You know the usual. Causing the few people in the store to tremble in fear for their lives.
Subtlety as he could, Dick reached into his pocket and pressed the bat signal on his phone to alert the others of this garden store robbery. Hoping that at least one of them was in the area and could quickly come to them in time, so that he wouldn’t have to mess up his suit trying to fight off these thugs.
Unfortunately for him though, Oracle contacted him through the com-piece, (That he forgot to take off), and informed him that no one was close enough in the area to help. So, Dick was out of luck.
In his words, he had to wing it.
With that in mind he set the bouquet down and approached one of the thugs. He had no time to delay, so he had to make this quick.
“Hey! You stand back!” Shouted the thug in the Shrek mask.
Dick didn’t care he just continued to advance towards the masked man.
“I am warning you!” The masked man yelled.
Dick continued to walk forward until he was just a few inches in front of Shrek.
Shrek immediately became angry and pointed his gun at Dick, causing the store’s occupants to cower in fear. However, the store owner, immediately started to pray in Spanish. While drawing a the symbol of the cross over her chest.
“Alright hero, I going to pump you full of -”, Dick threw a nasty punch in the man’s face, resulting in an instant KO.
The other two thugs as well as the store’s customers and the store owner watched on in astonishment.
However, their moment of shock didn’t last too long for soon Dick advanced on the other two.
With swift unmatched speed, Dick punched cow mask in the gut causing the thug to double over in pain. Before he could get a decent punch in Bugs Bunny, appeared from behind ready to shoot the young man in the back of the head. He didn’t get the chance to however because Dick ducked his head and entered a crouching position and turned his body to swiftly kick out his leg and sweep the man off his feet sending Bugs to the floor causing the gun to fly out the man’s hand.
Once he recovered and saw his partner on the ground, the cow masked thug positioned his gun ready to finish the task of killing off the young man. However, that proved to be in vain, for Dick high kicked the gun out of the thugs’ hand, shocking him.
But soon shock turned into rage and cow mask along with Bugs, (who just recovered), ended up going toe to toe with Dick in a full-on brawl.
Fists and kicks were flying everywhere.
With the thugs tagging teaming against the off-duty vigilante and said vigilante evading the oncoming attacks. During the chaos of the fight, the customers and the store owner quickly and quietly made their exits and waited outside the store. Several people called the police, while others along with some passing civilians stood outside to watch the ongoing fight.
Back inside the store, Dick quickly checked the time on the store’s hanging wall clock.
6:43 pm.
‘Shit!’ He had sworn mentally. Time was ticking down, and he needed to hurry, ‘I need to speed this up.’
As if in slow motion Dick saw Bugs’ fist swing towards his face before narrowly dodging it by shifting his face and body to the right. However, just as he dodged the brutal punch an idea quickly came to his mind. His eyes shifted to the glass garden display and back to the thug, Dick silently apologized to the store owner before his next move.
For he hated ruining small businesses, and this was going to hurt his heart as well as his wallet.
Using his right hand, Dick grasped the thugs’ extended arm in a vice like grip. Then he used his left hand to grab the upper part of the thugs’ shirt before angling his body and launching the man into the display.
CRASH!
The sound was loud and deafening as it rang through the store, which caused Dick to wince and momentarily sigh.
Bad news – He was going to have to pay for the damages.
Good news – Bugs Bunny was down, so that was two down and one more to g –
A hard force hit him in the back of the head, causing him to go flying to the ground. Thankfully, the blow wasn’t enough to render him unconscious, but it still hurt like hell.
Slightly dazed, Dick glanced up to see the Heffer, (excuse me), cow masked thug standing over him with one of the guns that was dropped. The muzzle staring directly at him in the face, promising death.
Dick’s wide eyes stared from the muzzle to the cow before him.
Behind the mask the thug smirked and released a deep sinister chuckle.
“I got to hand it to you kid; you really held your own against me and my boys. If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were the bat himself.” The thug said to him in a tone that Dick knew was mocking. But the thug shrugged his shoulders, the muzzle of the gun still pointed towards Dick’s face.
“However, I know you ain’t the bat. For the bat ain’t stupid enough to get his brains blown by me.” He then cocked his gun before pointing it back to Dick’s face, “So, wannabe bat, any last words before I send you to your permanent belfry?”
Dick had to hold back an eyeroll at the thugs’ question, but then his eyes flickered briefly behind the masked man, and he had to stop his lips from twitching upward.
“Come on kid! I don’t got all night!”
Turning his eyes back to the cow, Dick leaned back on his hands as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Yeah, I have something to say,” Dick said a smug look gracing his features. “I hope you like orange.”
The thugs’ grip on his gun faltered a bit but before he could say anything multiple clicks came from behind him.
“Drop your weapon and put your hands on your head.”
Cow mask turned slowly around to be met by the sight of commissioner Gordon with his gun raised flanked by two more cops. The look the commissioner was giving the man was not kind, as he kept the gun trained on the man before him. The GCPD officer moved slightly closer to the criminal.
“Drop the gun,” Gordon pressed. “Now!”
Even though no one else could see it, the thug’s face behind his mask twisted to form an angry snarl. He did try to think quickly of how he could escape before he heard another click from behind. He was out of luck.
With no more opinions left the man did as the commissioner asked.
As the thug was being cuffed Dick smiled smugly as the criminal was being escorted away.
A hand was stretched out in front of the young man and Dick looked from the hand to the kind face of the old commissioner. Dick didn’t hesitate to take Gordon’s hand and let the man help him up.
“You okay there son?” Gordon asked Dick once he was back on his own two feet.
“Yeah! Slightly bruised but overall, I am fine, nothing I haven’t handled before commissioner,” Dick then laughed rubbing the back of his head only to wince at the pain.
Gordon gave Dick an unamused look before letting his hand go, “Maybe it would be best if -”
“Is that the time?!” Dick yelled out in surprise and hurry interrupting the commissioner. Gordon turned to look at the clock on the wall; it read 7:38 pm. Gordon then looked at his wristwatch and the time read the same as it had on the wall clock.
“Indeed, it is, son. Why got a date or -” Gordon was interrupted once more when Dick shoved $100 in his hands. Gordon looked at the money in confusion but when he looked up, he saw Dick grabbing a bouquet of flowers from off the ground.
“Sorry commissioner but I got to run. The money I gave you should pay for the flowers and the damage I caused. Please give it to the owner for me and if it is not enough, you know how to reach me. BYE!”
Then Dick rushed out the store leaving behind a confused commissioner.
“Well at least he paid for the flowers.”
Meanwhile Dick was running down the street, however his luck continued to run out once he came to the crosswalk. Which was where his story began.
***
Dick was now back in the present his mind finishing up its brief trip down memory lane.
As he focused his eyes again, the walking man hadn’t appeared yet and Dick wondered what was taking so long. For the time had read 7:51 pm, and Dick started to get impatient, and Dick was never a happy trouper when he was impatient.
He had only nine minutes left, and he was just only a few more blocks away. He just had to make it, no, he needed to make it.
‘Come on, just turn already, damn it!’ He had shouted mentally towards the light, and as if on cue the stop hand turned to the walking man that Dick desperately needed.
‘Thank God!’ He shouted as if he was about to cross the street with the other people on the sidewalk. However, God must have been trying to test or punish the young off the clock vigilante for not just two seconds after he had the go ahead to walk across. A loud noise which sounded suspiciously like gunshots were sounding down the street, and it grew louder by the second. Dick along with many other people glanced down the right of the street and to Dick’s horror a massive, armored truck was speeding down the way with the Batmobile following close behind.
Some people had already fled the scene when they saw the truck even abandoning their vehicles in the process. Dick was going to move too but what he saw next stopped him in his tracks and watch in terrified eyes.
The armored truck skidded on the road, most likely trying to stop since the driver saw the traffic. But it didn’t matter because the truck was going so fast that it ended up tipping over its side and skidded straight into the other cars. Causing several to flip over or be launched into the air. Dick saw that one car a sleek black Porshe was launched into the air and was heading straight their way.
Quickly people moved out of the way screaming in terror and fear, but Dick. Instead, Dick immediately discarded the flowers and swiftly tackled a teenage boy wearing headphones to the ground away from the flying car. Dick looked up from where he and the teen landed and saw the street before him.
It was pure chaos.
Everyone was running for cover or ducking away. Most of the sidewalk occupants cleared going every which way just to avoid the danger. The Batmobile stopped and when it did Dick leapt into action. Once he made sure the teen was okay and uninjured, he rushed onto the street.
Quickly Dick helped more people get safely onto the sidewalk, helped a little girl find her mother, and even helped get a trapped family of four out of their car with the help of the big bad Bat.
When the GCPD cars started to show with their glaring red and blue lights. Bruce suggested for Dick to make himself scarce by the time the police showed up unless he wanted to be late. Dick nodded at his adoptive father, but before he could leave Bruce placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. The look that Bruce was giving Dick even from behind the cowl was an apologetic one. For Bruce was the only another person who knew what was to happen today, and the young man need all the strength he could get.
“Good luck, Dick,” the Bat had said giving Dick’s shoulder a light squeeze then turned to walk back towards the Batmobile.
With the comfort from Bruce, Dick looked at his watch again and his eyes widened, and his heart stopped for a few seconds.
8:23 pm.
“Oh crap, I am late!” Swiftly Dick went to the side of the street where he threw down the flowers. After a minute of searching through the rubble and debris, he had finally found them. They did look a little worse for wear, but it didn’t matter because they were decent enough. Once he had the bouquet in his hands Dick high tailed it down the street.
After a few minutes of non-stop running, he had finally reached it.
Gotham Memorial Hospital.
Dick panted in relief as he walked through the doors of the grand hospital, but his heart was still pounding in his chest not from the running. But for something else.
***
After five minutes of waiting Dick was led to a hospital room by a nurse. As he walked his shoes clacked on the marble floors and his breathing felt a little heavy. The closer he got the more nervous he had felt.
Then when he finally reached the room which read, 347, Dick held the flowers tighter in his grasp. Before stealing his resolve and opening the door. Once he did his breath hitched as he looked at the person laying down in the hospital bed.
***
You had been sick for at least a year now, stage four of Leukemia kicking your butt more times than not. It had gotten so bad to where eventually, you had to start living in the hospital as a resident than an occurring visitor.
Since you were poor with a minimal job and barely any family you cared to talk to. Your best friend’s father, the famous Bruce Wayne, started paying for your hospital bills. Of course, being the way that you are you didn’t want to accept it. However, you had forgotten that Dick and Bruce were stubborn themselves.
So, you ended up relenting and let the billionaire pay for your bills.
While you stayed in the hospital, Dick would pop by every now and again. He always made sure to visit whenever he could, and it was in fact often. You didn’t hate his visits and how could you. In this deary place of pale walls, sanitization, and despair cooked into the food.
It was Dick who brought a bright smile to your face no matter how much weaker you got. He was still able to make you laugh, even in this dark and final hour of your life.
He was always there.
Even when you stumbled and fell.
He was there.
Even when you first learned of your ailment.
He was there.
Even when your (Y/H/L) (Y/H/C) hair fell out, leaving you bald.
He was there.
Even when you were even more pale and sickly from the treatments. Laying in this hospital bed, barely able to move even the slightest inch.
He was there.
He has always been there. Been here with you, even now. While he retold his crazy night trying to get here. As he told his story using dramatic sounds and exaggerated movements and hand gestures. Causing tears to stream down your face from laughing too hard. Gosh you loved this.
You loved…Him.
As Dick finished telling his story, the conversation between the two of you settled and began to become softer. As the two of you reminisced about your school days at Gotham Academy and how much trouble you both had gotten into. Even remembering the time when you expertly discovered Dick’s identity. To this day it still surprised the young boy at the fact that his nighttime role was discovered by his school friend of just three months.
As usual you just laughed and said, “Please both you and the speedo wearing boy wonder, are never in the same place at the same time; the moment you disappear he appears and the vice versa.”
Dick blushed at that embarrassed and muttered to himself. Pouting and crossing his arms like a small child instead of the grown man he was.
You laughed once again, but soon that laughter died down the moment you felt your body grow heavier and more tired. You sighed, drooping a little as you leaned back onto the pillows.
Noticing your shift in demeanor, Dick uncrossed his arms and turned towards you with a concerned look crossing his face.
“Hey, is everything alright?”
Your eyes met his for a second before focusing on the bouquet he had gotten for you. You had placed it on the rolling bed table, so you wouldn’t have to hold on to them. Your eyes watched as one of the petals on one of the (F/F), was barely hanging on to the stem of the flower. Threatening to break away from the plant and fall to the floor, but for whatever reason it stayed on.
Kind of like you, to be honest.
“My time’s running out Dick,” you paused closing your eyes briefly. “I can feel it, for it is close now. More than it ever was before. More than I longed to believe it wasn’t.”
Dick remained silent as his eyes still focused on you, his hands were clasped together tightly as he continued to listen. Knowing that if your words were true, then this would be the last time he would hear your voice. Plus, he knew that even now by talking, you were steadily growing even weaker. He would have stopped you, but he knew you needed this time to say whatever you had to say.
For it was your last chance.
“Sometimes I thought about cursing the world for my problems. For even cursing my no-good parents on their cruelty to me. However, in the end I couldn’t.” You started to cry, but this time instead of the tears being out of merriment they were out of sorrow and exhaustion. “Actually, there have been many things I have wanted to do still in my life. Travel. Have an amazing career that I would love but hate at the same time. Maybe even have a husband and have kids.”
Dick snorted at that, “I pity the poor foul who would’ve married you. You probably would’ve drove the poor man into an early grave, that and I doubt he would want another version of you around.” You both laughed, cutting through the tension.
When you and Dick stopped laughing, you wiped your tears from your eyes and your gazed fixed on him once more.
“Well, what’s to say that ‘poor fool’ isn’t sitting before me?” You asked with a cheeky smile, but sadness and regret lingering in your eyes.
Dick eyes widened in shock, “W-What do you mean by that, (Y/N)?”
You just gave him a knowing smile, “I think you know exactly what I mean, junior detective.”
Dick swallowed rubbing his hands back and forth together unsure how to respond. Were you really implying that you wished he was your…?
“H-How…” he then cleared his throat to stop his voice from cracking as tears threatened to come to the surface. “…How long have you…You know have…”
“Feelings for you?” You had finished, eyes barely opened but not all the way closed. “Even I do not know when it happened. Maybe it started when we were separated, and I went to university. Maybe it happened before even that like senior prom, when my date didn’t show, and you decided to be my date instead. No, it must’ve been when we first met.” You snapped your fingers as the realization hit you, “Yes! That sounds about right, when I was a total loner and the happy go lucky adopted kid of Bruce Wayne came along. Turning my miserable existence into something lighter. So, I guess what I am saying hear is… I love you, Dick.”
You chuckled a bit, “Who would have thought, that all it took for me to admit my feelings was on my death bed. Life is funny like that I guess.”
Dick didn’t say anything.
For how could he?
You, his best friend, had just told him that you loved him as more than just a friend. As you lay there before him on death’s door. How could you just drop a bombshell like that?
How could you be so heartless to do this to him. When he has felt the same.
“How could you say that?” He asked angrily, “How could you just say those things when you are drifting away every second you breathe?”
You give him an apologetic look, but before you could say anything a knock sounded on the door. After the knock ended your nurse came in, it was time for your annual vital check. Neither you nor Dick spoke while the nurse did her job, not wanting to have her eavesdrop on your conversation. The moment the nurse was done she turned to her face in a kind but serious expression.
“Sir, I just want to remind you that visiting hours will be over in five minutes.” Without a word Dick gave a brief nod to the nurse and watched as she walked out the door.
“It is getting late; you should probably head back to the manor. I have no doubt that you have a lot of work to do.” You had said to him, Dick’s eyes met yours once again.
“Don’t do that,” Dick gritted out. “Don’t try to run me out! I… I cannot accept you saying your true feelings when I know I will never see you again. That I…” Tears started to cascade down Dick’s face. His baby blue eyes becoming more beautiful to you as well as more heart wrenching.
Another knock on the door sounded causing both you and Dick to turn to the door. The door opened with a click and the same nurse from before entered.
“Sir, visiting hours are over,” Dick turned sharply to her eyes red and still had tears shining inside them. “Can you just give us just a few more minutes? Please!”
The nurse looked at the man regretfully knowing what it felt like to lose someone. However, rules were rules, “I am truly sorry sir, but…”
“Please! Please, just five more minutes then I will go. I promise.”
The nurse glanced out of the hall briefly, then she looked at you. You nodded your head causing the nurse to sigh deeply. “Okay, five more minutes. Any longer and I am going to have security escort you out, sir.”
Dick’s heart tightened at that, but it was better than nothing. “Thank you, I will be quick.”
The nurse nodded and closed the door with a soft click behind her.
“I know this is hard for you to hear Dick, but if I didn’t say it now. It would’ve haunted me in the afterlife,” You had told him your (E/C) orbs meeting his baby blues. “So, I decided to say the things I needed to say now. For I know as soon as I go my soul and heart can rest peacefully. I am tying up lose ends if you will.”
You stared at your hands as you spoke your next words, “‘The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.’”
Dick chuckled then sniffed, “Steve Maraboli, you always loved that quote. If I remember correctly, you also loved (F/P) as well.”
“I do for it reminds me of letting go, it actually helped me in more ways then one.” Your head turned up to meet Dick’s as you leaned back to rest against the pillows. “Dick, I need you to promise me something. As a final request.”
Dick leaned forward ready to receive what you wanted of him.
You smiled mischievously at him, “No matter what happens and no matter when I go. Don’t go sulking over me. That is the last thing that I want.”
Dick swallowed but bobbed his head, “I-I promise, (Y/N/N).”
“Good.”
Right on queue a knock sounded on the door. Then the nurse came in her face serious, “Sir your time is up. You must leave or I will have to call security.”
Dick’s fists clenched but before he could say anything you spoke, “It’s okay Dick. She is right, she already let you have some grace by letting you stay longer. Why make it worse?”
At your words any argument in Dick’s throat quickly died. There was a sympathetic look that crossed had crossed over your face. The broken look you were met with broke you too, but you knew Dick will move on. You need him to live for your sake even though your time was steadily running out.
“Go Dick I will be fine. Besides you have work to do,” you reassured him.
Dick hesitated, but after a while he got up and started for the door.
“Hey Dick,” he paused turning towards you again. You smiled, “Don’t be late.”
Dick nodded smiling as well with new tears forming in his eyes, “I won’t. Promise.”
Then he left and he wished he had got to tell you before it was too late. For even though he had promised you he wouldn’t be late. His time still ran out.
For when the warm sun rose the next day.
You were gone.
He regretted not telling you when you were alive. However, he got his chance a month later. When he walked through the Gotham cemetery to place flowers on your grave. Kneeling down he brushed away the snow that covered the headstone as it read…
(Y/N) (Y/L/N)
(Y/B/D) – January 25, 20XX
Beloved friend and Honorary (Daughter/Son).
May they find eternal rest.
When Dick cleared the snow, he laid the flowers down and touched the gravestone. Fresh warm tears streaking down his face during the chilling winter breeze.
Closing his eyes he whispered the words that he wanted and wished to say to you for so long. Letting the wind carry his words up to the heavens hoping that maybe you would hear.
Blind Love and Silent Hearts - Chapter 9. On the Hunt for a Goddess pt. 2 - Into the Glade
Summary: Ares, Artemis and Hermes venture into the gardens together. As they travel to the area where Ares met the mysterious goddess. The party is not anymore closer to being the sibling unit, Hermes wanted it to be.
The evergreen forest was beautiful and untouched. The wondrous world of tall and encompassing trees stood proud and strong, like ever-watching guardians, protecting all who lived within the vast space.
As the hunting party treks deeper into the forest's heart, they begin to speak with one another. Making their mission once again clear, as they walk deeper into the forest. Forming a bond that will surely last for quite a while.
Strengthening the bond within their group.
~*~
The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the gardens. The heavy and commanding footfalls of Ares. The confident and deliberate steps of Artemis. Along with the light and swift movements of Hermes were the only sounds that resonated within the silence.
None of them spoke a single word to the other as Ares led his two half-siblings to the clearing where he had his ‘episode,’ a few days ago.
The day when he had met the clouded-eyed goddess.
Ares focused his attention forward, intentionally disregarding the presence of his companions. His mind was too heavily focused on the mission to even care about his less-than-worthy half-siblings. He also preferred to avoid further conversation with Artemis. Considering his earlier altercation with her was anything to go by. Plus, he was still infuriated over the accusations and insults the huntress threw towards the goddess of mystery.
Despite her valid points, Ares couldn’t help but defend the clouded-eyed goddess. He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t fathom the idea of the goddess who helped him. That calmed his war-hardened soul. To be anything like what his sister was trying to frame her as.
It was unseemly.
Along with that, the other reason the war god refused to speak a word towards his silver-haired sister. Was because of the constant reminders of how Athena was better than him in every way. The infuriating comparisons between him and his golden sister were enough to make him want to tear the huntress in half. Along with the hurtful revelations that others, including himself, know that Zeus treasured Athena over him. Heck! Zeus treasured all of Ares’s half-siblings over him. Even Hephaestus, the disfigured blacksmith who was rejected by their mother. For his putrid appearance and his disabilities making him less than favored in the eyes of the queen of the gods. Alas, Ares did have a suspicion that there were several different reasons why his father favored the lame Olympian over him.
Mainly, because Hephaestus was the blacksmith of the gods. No one, not even the cyclopes, could forge weapons, jewelry, or divine architecture as he could. His talent was so great that many sang praises towards his craft, saying that the beauty of his work made up for the beauty he lacked himself. This was why Zeus favored him so highly. That and knowing his father, he also favored the blacksmith due to his pettiness towards his wife, Hera. Alongside him, as his trueborn and uncontrollable son, who was always an utter failure. Who was unworthy in the eyes of the king of the gods.
Unlike his brother, who, in Zeus’s eyes, was useful and worthy despite everything about him that said otherwise.
Meanwhile, how useful was he, Ares, the god of war? To his father, Ares was about as useful as a blunted sword. A comparison that hurt him more than it should, for a blunted sword was no good in battle and in a forge where new weapons were made to always outshine the old and out seasoned. A blunt sword was just another piece of common junk. Shoved to the back of the forge to be forgotten and outshone by the multiple pristine and more exquisite weapons to be shown off and respected.
That was what the reality of his situation was: he was the blunted weapon. Junk that was overlooked for something more favorable. It was just how his father looked at him and his half-siblings. While he was tossed aside by his father, his half-siblings were chosen.
‘They were always chosen.’
A thought, a fact, that made the war god wonder. When will he ever be chosen? Will he be chosen and seen as he had always wanted? Will he ever be as valued as the others?
“You will never matter, Ares,” the cold words of his mother echoed through his mind like a harsh storm. “No matter what you do, Zeus will never recognize you for in his eyes you are a disappointment. Learn to be better and not a bloodlust-maddening fool. Then he will see your worth, if at all. Become better, and then you will rise to greatness.”
“Become better. . .” He muttered under his breath, causing both of his siblings to glance his way with different expressions on their faces.
Artemis side-eyed him, her facial expression curious but not in a way that expressed concern; instead, it was more like judgmental. However, she just shrugged it off and fixed her gaze forward. Choosing to ignore and focus on their self-assigned mission, leaving the weirdness of her brother for another day. Or never.
Hermes, on the other hand, was the opposite of his sister. He knew his brother's problems, if not all, he knew some. Nevertheless, despite Hermes’s concern for his brother. The messenger was more concerned about the state of their mission. It was painfully obvious that Ares and Artemis despised each other. They fought against each other like cats and dogs, or better yet, in the battle of the sexes.
They would glare at each other from a distance or up close.
Share verbal abusive insults or rage baiting commentary.
If given the opportunity and motivation, they would likely be willing to engage in conflict to the utmost extent.
Which was something Hermes wanted to heavily avoid. Sadly, he doubted if that ever was going to be the case. With the way things were going, the messenger almost had no hope for their impromptu team. Despite their motives being as different as they can be. The current hostility was circling through the air like a hungry vulture.
Ares’s motives were obvious, but some seemed still in the center of complexity. The war god already stated his goal for this quest, and it was to find the goddess of mystery that struck a chord in his ever-turbulent mind. Despite him not admitting to it, Hermes knew that his brother had more of an infatuation with the unknown goddess than he realized. An infatuation that went beyond simple, “I just want to ask her a couple of questions I myself don’t know the answer to.” Hermes had translated what his brother said to him the day pervious. The swift-footed god wasn’t blind nor was going to cast away the way his brother looked whenever he thought or spoke of the goddess. No matter how hard Ares tried to put up a tough and heartless front. Hermes saw the softness that creeped into his brother’s eyes that always had surfaced, a softness that wasn’t noticeable unless you truly looked. It was more of a blink, and you miss it moment. However, there was no denying the fact that after their brief encounter with one another. Ares had a growing affection for the goddess of mystery; it was only a matter of time before he accepted it.
For Hermes his motives came from a genuine heart. Heart that wants to understand, to bond with his brother. To bridge the gap that filled with nothing but scorn and unfair hate. The messenger god sought to fix wrongs that were unjustly caused by others. Wrongs that were set in place by mainly his father, Zeus. The hatred from Hera and her eldest son, along with other problems. He didn’t know if it was a known fact or not, but he cared. Beneath all the playfulness. All the trickery. Under all the mischief, that had been stored successfully into one being. Hermes had strong and enormous loving heart. He wanted to show his loving brother how much he cared and that he wasn’t alone, that he had someone that was in his corner. No matter if his brother denied him, Hermes would still be here. Waiting and ready.
Artemis, on the other hand, her motives were kind of complex. It was obvious that the huntress only agreed to help due Hermes asking her. More like pleading. To assist in the hunt, he and their brother set for themselves. Although she agreed to join them, Hermes knew Artemis was in this to mainly keep a sharp eye on Ares but to also get to the bottom of this goddess mystery. She had little care as to the feelings and secret hardships that their brother was going through and longed to help like he did. Instead, Artemis mainly cared for the treatment of their other half-siblings since she has more ties and loyalty to them that has earned her care and consideration. Ares on though she could care less. Causing her to seem a bit cruel and heartless, since she mainly considered the treatment of their bastard siblings to be more of a greater concern than their horrible elder half-brother.
Which was understandable, but Hermes believed that there was a side to every story and that there was pain in other places. Just because one didn’t see it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t there and refusing to acknowledge the pain once you know about it is even worse. For it doesn’t feel like one is simply turning a blind eye. Alas, it feels like being abandoned, to fend for yourself in a world so cruel it could tear you apart.
That was what Hermes saw in his brother, abandonment. Which was something that the swift god wished to correct, his first steps being this hunt. However, that felt nigh impossible due to the hostility between Artemis and Ares. There was no way for the three of them to be open as siblings. Now Hermes wasn’t expecting a full blown, session where they balled their eyes out and shared their deepest feelings to no one else but their little group.
No, there would be (hopefully) a different time and place for that. Right now, what Hermes needed was a distraction, something that could divert the tension between the three of them. Well, mainly two-thirds of tension. Since he wasn’t the one being overly hostile like some. So, he was kind of in a rut. Until suddenly, Hermes got a grand idea. An idea that will not only break the tension but was an immediate callback to his childhood, despite how utterly brief it in fact was. Considering the war with the titans and later the giants.
Still, it was perfect.
“Brother! Sister! I just had the most marvelous idea come to me,” he had said enthusiastically, causing Artemis to shift her gaze to look slightly back at him. While Ares kept his eyes trained forward, not even bothering to turn around to acknowledge the messenger. Causing Hermes to just hope a little for his brother to at least hear what he was suggesting.
“I know without a doubt it will be a perfect idea,” Hermes added on, his voice filled with endless giddiness.
“What troublesome scheme have you cooked up this time Hermes?” Artemis questioned a hint of playfulness mixing in with the curiosity in her tone.
“Troublesome? My ideas are not troublesome,” Hermes’s face shifted to one of mock offense. “Why does everyone think that just because I have an idea, I am plotting something?”
“Because you always are,” the reply didn’t come from Artemis like the swift god was expecting. Instead, the comment came from the gruff and baritone voice of his brother, Ares. To be honest Hermes thought it would take the war god longer to speak to either of them. He didn’t expect his brother to share his opinions so soon. Especially after his confrontation with Artemis in the gardens earlier. So, Hermes believed that his brother would’ve been more closed off than normal.
Well, he wasn’t about to complain, because in his mind. This. Was. Perfect.
Sibling communication, (banter), was just what they needed.
Hermes gasped dramatically causing Artemis to snort and Ares to roll his eyes, “I will have you know, brother, that I do not always plot or scheme. When I was a child maybe, but I have grown since then and matured into the refined god you see before yourselves.”
“Matured? Please! Yesterday I had to correct you for horrible table manners,” Ares’s swift reply caused Hermes to almost falter in his steps. The messenger’s eyes giving away the look of utter betrayal, as Artemis smirked.
“Brother! How could you? And in front of our sister?!” Hermes whined like he was a child. “I thought we were bonding.”
“What makes you think we were bonding?” Ares countered back, however strangely there was no bite or harshness to his tone. “As I recall that wasn’t a bonding moment, it was a need to correct you on an area that you so clearly lacked. It’s called giving ‘advice’ Hermes, not bonding.”
“So, you were giving me advice?”
“Much needed advice, yes,” the war god confirmed.
Hermes was silent for a moment, much to Ares’s concealed delight, not wanting to entertain his foolish half-brother any longer.
“That’s means you were giving me brotherly advice,” Hermes gleefully expressed. “That is surprisingly kind of you brother, I always knew you cared for my well-being.”
Ares paused, his feet stopped in their tracks causing both his siblings to pause their movements. The war god slowly turned his body to face his winged-footed brother. His eyes burning with an intensity that many ‘sensible’ individuals would’ve wisely taken as a sign of impending danger.
However, Hermes knew his brother well and that this look was more of look for an impending argument, rather than impending doom.
“Alright,” Ares laughed humorlessly. “Let’s get a few things straight. I wasn’t giving you brotherly advice. I would never give advice, especially nothing as ludicrous as. . . Brotherly advice. Cause at the end of the day, why would I consider you, my brother? While we do share the blood of Zeus, that doesn’t mean we are brothers.” Ares then shifted his gaze towards Artemis, his divine features giving off an expression of indifference. “The same goes for the poorly disguised man over there.”
Artemis didn’t say anything to her half-brother, she didn’t have to, as she lunged in his direction. As swift as ever, Hermes blocked her approach his hands holding her back from killing their boar-headed brother.
“Sister, calm down. I am sure Ares didn’t mean it, he is just trying to provoke you,” he had said struggling to hold her back. ‘Man, she is strong when she is pissed,’ Hermes mentally expressed. “Take heed sister, control your anger.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, Hermes!” The huntress barked out towards her younger brother. “I have about had it with this son of a -”
“I implore you, huntress. Finish that sentence, I dare you.”
“Gladly, you heartless bastard!”
“Takes one to know one.”
“Why you -”
“ENOUGH!” A shout rang out, causing the silence of the gardens to echo with the annoyed voice, which belonged solely to Hermes. “Stop this foolishness at once you two!” The winged-footed god commanded his two elder siblings with a tone of surprising authority. Annoyance was evident on his typically mischievous face. With his normally comedic voice and persona nowhere to be found and replaced by a more serious undertone. Causing both of his siblings to look at him with bewildered expressions on their faces.
Even though the outburst from his bastard brother was surprising. Ares was the first one out of him and Artemis who broke the silence with an unwelcome snide comment.
“Well, well,” Ares crossed his arms over his chest as a twisted smirk rose once again on his rugged face. “It seems like the snake decided to finally bear his fangs. I fully wonder when he will finally spout venom.”
Artemis glared at Ares, her mouth curling into a sneer revealing her teeth. Each one as white as the many iridescent pearls in Poseidon’s great vast sea. However, the pointed teeth made her look more animalistic than a goddess. Her eyes screaming for murder. For blood.
Despite this, before the moon goddess could say anything, Hermes spoke up.
“You need to cease now, brother!” Hermes ordered finally releasing their sister, the moment he knew she wasn’t going to attack the war god.
Anymore.
“Cease what? My fun? I don’t think so.”
“Well, you need to!” The god snapped back. He didn’t intend for the conversation to go this way. Hermes only wanted to spend time with his siblings and help his brother out. Alas, Ares was making the entire thing way too difficult, and it was starting to make him have a headache.
“Listen to me carefully, brother. So, I can remind you of some things,” Hermes said, taking a quick moment to calm himself. “Artemis and I agreed to help you find your goddess of mystery.
However, we cannot find her if all you continue to do is to constantly antagonize us as if it were your own personal sport.” He then paused, making sure that his words, although brief, were sinking in with his brother.
“I understand your opinions of us and despite my utter distaste of it I understand,” Hermes took another breath, trying to stay calm under the tension. “But even though I understand I won’t tolerate your treatment towards us. It isn’t right, nor is it fair. With that being said,” Hermes took a step closer to his brother. Hermes’s baby blue eyes meeting Ares’s intense scarlet. “If you still want us to help you. Then let us help you and stop trying to make this more difficult than it should be. Treat us as temporary comrades if you must, but if not then me and Artemis will walk away. Leaving you to fend for yourself in this hunt.” There was a pause, “Are we clear?”
Ares didn’t answer immediately, instead he was trying hard to mask how impressed he was at his little brother. For it was a well-known fact amongst the gods that majority of the time, Hermes never used his assertiveness unless for absolute necessary reasons. The messenger has moments of seriousness every now and again but ultimately falling back on humor and quips to settle serious situations. So, to hear his bastard brother use this tone of voice with him, Ares was indeed impressed.
Although, the more logical side of Ares’s brain processed exactly what the winged-footed god had expressed on behalf of their sister and him. Which caused Ares’s amusement to vanish instantly.
“Treat us as temporary comrades if you must, but if not then me and Artemis will walk away. Leaving you to fend for yourself.”
Honestly, Ares didn’t care. Since at the very start of this entire journey yesterday, Ares never wanted his siblings help in the first place. If he recalled, Hermes kept pestering him, meaning he kept bringing up annoyingly valid points. To where the bastard finally eroded down, to where Ares eventually agreed. As for Artemis, the god didn’t want her here the most. He only allowed Hermes, because he was someone Ares could at least tolerate.
In the war god’s eyes, his sister was the one that was the most hostile. Way more hostile than her sunburning twin. A goddess who looks down on all men, just because she was way to self-conscious to get into the sheets with one. Plus, there was the fact that the moon goddess hated Ares’s existence way more than the existence of men. If the previous conversations weren’t proof enough towards how much Ares and the banshee didn’t get along. The only reason why she even here was because Hermes pointed out how great an asset she could been in this quest. Causing Ares to relent and let her into the circle of the know.
Unlike before, if Ares had his way. He would’ve told off both his siblings, telling them to go and jump into Tartarus for all he cared for. For he didn’t really need their help in the first place; he was Ares. The son of Zeus and Hera, king and queen of the Olympian gods. The god of war and strife. He needed no one, especially not the mistakes that stood in front of him. However, a voice that sounded suspiciously like his own echoed through his mind.
“Yes, you do, you fool!” The harsh voice had said condescendingly in his subconscious, “Despite your hatred for the two of them, your father’s bastard has a point. You cannot do this on your own. You cannot find HER on your own. Whilst you may be the son of Zeus, you're useless, just like the thunder always said you were.” Ares had to resist the urge to grit his teeth; instead, he settled on his folded arms, his hand squeezing his bicep. “Unlike Athena, who is intelligent enough to solve this matter on her own. You would be more successful in finding a broken spear on a vacant battlefield, rather than a full-blown goddess. So, swallow your pathetic pride and get on with it.”
Ares sighed a heavily frustrated sigh. The war god knew the voice in his head was right, even though he hated to admit it. It was right. Ares indeed, sought Hermes’s assistance when it concerned finding the goddess. His half-brother earnestly stepped up to the plate immediately once given his elder brother’s permission to do so. Furthermore, it wasn’t Ares’s idea to invite Artemis on this mission. He didn’t want to even be near the huntress, not only because of their shared hostility. Merely, instead he just hated the fact that he had to be reminded of another one of the unfortunate mistakes he made.
He hated feeling ounce of remorse or regret, much less a twinge of guilt when concerning his bastard siblings. Which was why he buried things inside and never let them resurface, ever.
Aside from that, Ares didn’t want to be around his sister, but Hermes was right. Infuriatingly right. If they are on a hunt to find a goddess, then they would need a professional hunter. Someone, who could track and trace where the goddess was or last seen. So, unfortunately, they needed her.
Ares needed them.
As much as he HATED to say it, to even admit it. Ares had to for once in his immortal life swallow his meaningless pride and submit. . . For once.
A single soldier cannot win a war on their own. That is why armies are called forth, team of allies to take down a common enemy. Or in this case, a single hunter cannot catch rare prey on his own. Which is why he comes with a hunting party.
“Very well, brother. I will. . . Submit and form a temporary alliance with the two of you.” As his words rolled heavily off his tongue. Ares had to resist the urge to gag and visibly blanch at his own words. The fact that he said he would submit killed him on the inside. Ugh! He hated this. He strongly hated this to an exceptional degree.
Meanwhile, Hermes and Artemis had different reactions to their brother’s acceptance.
Hermes had a look of surprise, that quickly shifted to one of relief. Finally, their brother came to his senses and accepted there help. To Hermes this was like progress and the calm after the storm, thankfully it was smooth sailing from here.
Artemis, on the other hand, continued to remain skeptical of her war hardened half-brother. She crossed her arms as she observed Ares’s body language as he spoke about the supposed truce. The huntress saw how pained her brother looked when he submitted to form an alliance with them and Artemis had to resist the urge to laugh outright. For Ares had to stow away his pride and to Artemis it looked like it was killing him to do so. The great god of war admitting he needed help for once and from the individuals he detested the most. Oh, this was delicious. However, Artemis was still waiting for the “but” that she felt was soon to come from her brother’s lips.
“Howbeit,” there it was.
“Once this little quest is over,” Ares growled to his siblings, arms becoming uncrossed. “We will go back to how things were between us. No more frivolous niceties, no more of this. . . Working together business.” Ares said using air quotes, “And especially, no more acting as if we are equals amongst ourselves. I will continue to stand higher than you both, while you will stay under my heel. Understand?”
“As if I will ever settle to being under a man in disgusting form or degrading fashion,” Artemis snakingly replied to Ares. Her gaze once again never wavering, her eyes as cold as steel. “You may think you are better than us brother, but you are heavily mistaken. For it is not us who stand lower, but you. We may be bastards, but we have much more high regard, as well as standing way more than you do. In case, you have forgotten our little chat, brother.”
Hermes tensed, he really did not want to break up another oncoming fight with his siblings. He saw it when Ares’s jaw clenched, and his crimson eyes blazed with fury. While Artemis’s sliver gaze, was fixed with hostility and challenge. They hadn’t even reached their destination in the gardens yet. The search had only recently begun, but at their current pace, it might take a millennium before they initiated their efforts. Not to mention, Ares’s supposed desire for this mystery goddess being the main reason why they were here. If they didn’t press on soon, then Ares’s goddess could end up being lost in the wind. She could be here right now, and they wouldn’t have known it. Since they, meaning his siblings, were too busy fighting amongst themselves in their petty squabbles to understand the severity of the situation.
Hermes needed to put a stop to this swiftly, before one of them, and it won’t be him, leaves with a broken bone or two. Yet, before he could step in, again, and calm down his siblings. Artemis spoke out once again.
“I will concede to this temporary alliance,” she turned to Hermes, eying her swift-footed brother with a serious expression upon her face. “On my part I will not be the one to put forth anymore conflict. Amongst our fragile group, unless. . .” The moon goddess’s eyes pierce Ares’s as her lips curl into a sneer, “Unless this one! Elicits my anger yet again, then the truce is off, and Olympus will get a new pin cushion.”
Ares’s eyes flared, but Hermes swiftly yet again cut him off, “Excellent terms dearest sister! Don’t you agree that those terms are reasonable brother?”
The god of messengers commented, shooting his brother a pleading smile. Ares just sneered, rolling his eyes he huffed in indignation. Before turning his crimson blood red eyes towards his sister, jaw tight.
“Agreed,” he had growled out. “The terms are. . . Reasonable.” Ares had relented to his bastard brother before huffing and turning around to once again face forward. “Now enough of this. We have already wasted enough time. Let’s hurry up and get to our destination, so we can move things along and I don’t have to torment myself with your presences for much longer.”
Without another word Ares stormed away not even looking back a second glance to see if his siblings were following behind.
Hermes frowned at his brother’s retreating form, saddened by how much little progress he was making with him. However, he quickly wiped it away and put on a nervous smile facing Artemis.
“Not what I was expecting, but it all worked out perfectly right, sister?” He said rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
“Hardly!” The huntress said her tone flat, and arms crossed.
“Come on Artemis, you know our brother can be a little jagged -”
“A little jagged?” Artemis cut him off, eyes narrowing in distaste. “That isn’t a way I would describe that walking lump of toxicity. You and I both know that if Ares had his way he would crush our skulls in with his barbaric war hammer.”
Hermes sighed exhausted, “I know but -”
“But you refuse to give up on him,” Artemis interrupted again. “You refuse to let him be, why? Is it because you feel like it is your given duty? Or do you feel like it is the right thing to do? Cause I can tell you this brother, no one not even Ares, is worth this much trouble. Sometimes it is best to leave things as they are, rather than try and fix them yourself. All it will do in the long run is exhaust you.”
Artemis then moved past him, ready to follow their brooding brother. However, before she left, she turned back to him, midnight blue eyes holding a softness only reserved for that are worthy of the look.
“Listen to me and listen well little brother,” she said. “Once this is over, I plan to wipe my hands clean of this affair with Ares. Thus, I advise the same for you.” The huntress then paused sighing before looking forward again, eyes set on the path that the war god took. “I do not know the extent in whichever goal you have saddled yourself with when it comes to our loathsome brother. Still, my advice is for you to give up on it, because if you don’t you won’t be as much help as you think you’ll be. Instead, you will wound and knowing Ares that is the definite outcome. So, open your eyes now brother, before you get hurt.”
After she spoke the huntress walked briskly down the path, in the direction where Ares went. Leaving Hermes behind in his thoughts.
A/N: Hey everyone I am pleased to share the new chapter of Blind Love and Silent Hearts. Now I wanted to say thank you guys for reading this story and thank you for enjoying everything so far. I did want to say I might not update for a little bit on this story because I want to update my other stories for a moment, but it shouldn't be too long. Hopefully. Anyway, thank you guys so much and I will see you lovely people next time.
Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 5: Heron's Death
Warning Spoilers!
Hello guys! So, this is the last part of the Blood of Zeus thoughts series. I apologize for the super late post, but we are here now. Thank you so much for reading this series and I hope you check out the other parts of the series if you haven't already.
With that being said, enjoy the final part.
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 1: Ares's Death - https://www.tumblr.com/starfire1657/783136352325795840/blood-of-zeus-season-3-thoughts-part-1-aress?source=share
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 3: Persephone's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 3: Persephone's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 4: Kofi's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 4: Kofi's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
We are at the final part of the Blood of Zeus thoughts and opinions on season 3's character deaths. Finally, we have Heron.
For those of you who are new to the Blood of Zeus fandom or are interested in this series lucky you stumbled upon this rant post.
Heron is the main character of the Netflix series Blood of Zeus. The bastard son of Zeus and Queen Electra of Corinth. At the start of the series, Heron goes through a lot of BS caused by mainly the gods. Along with that he has a twin half-brother, Seraphim, who also takes on the task of making Heron's life no easier either. Up until the dreaded season 3.
Now, as mentioned many times. In this post I will go over four things when it comes to the fate of Heron in season 3. His death, his sacrifice, his remembrance, and if his character potential was in fact wasted among the narrative. Along with at the end, I will give a list of what I would've done differently to the character's story if I rewritten it.
So, without further ado let's dive in.
First let's talk about Heron's death. In final season of Blood of Zeus, there were many characters, mainly just five, who have had a tragic and, in my opinion, undeserved death. Heron was the last character to die in the final season of Blood of Zeus. His death happened in Season 3, Episode 8: A Champion's Challenge. Where Heron and Seraphim work together, and fight both the beast Typhon and the Titan King, Chronos in an epic show down. In order to defeat Typhon, Heron followed in the steps of his father Zeus in the first season and obliterated himself killing Typhon in the process. Sacrificing himself for a greater good and becoming a hero. Heron's death marked the show and, in my opinion, showcased his worth as a hero. Did his death hurt me? Yes, yes it did. If it didn't, I wouldn't be writing this post. Overall, Heron's death was necessary if not a little bit irritating.
Next is Heron's sacrifice, like I said in the previous bullet point. Heron sacrificed himself for the greater good of the world. Because the titans were rising in power quickly. It was up to Heron and his brother to help the Olympians take control and defeat the titans and Chronos once and for all. So, Heron and Seraphim battled Typhon and Chronos in a duel. In Season 3, Episode 8. To which Heron killed himself in a powerful lightning blast killing Typhon in the process. Heron's sacrifice was in fact needed because without it they wouldn't have won the battle, and the world would've been doomed. So, thank you Heron you are a hero to us all.
Second to last is Heron's remembrance. Heron remembered twice at the end of the show by his father, Zeus, and the gods of Olympus. On Olympus, Zeus unveiled a statue of Heron and his brother Seraphim praising them both. Heron's name went down in history being seen as the word, "Hero." Then being remembered in the stars with his divine siblings. Heron deserved his remembrance. Because of all the crap he has been put through SINCE SEASON 1!!! He has been through hell and back. LITERALLY!!! So, my boy got to have some remembrance towards him. Either way, Heron deserved this, and I was so happy when he rejoined his mother and got his happy ending.
Lastly, was Heron's character wasted? HARD NO! The reason is because. . . HE. IS. THE. MAIN. CHARACTER. So, of course his character potential was never wasted. However, I do believe we could've gotten more from his character if the show went on its five-season run LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO!!! I cannot stress this enough. We would've gotten more! But alas we make do elsewhere tragically. All and all Heron's character potential was never wasted.
Alright we have reached the final section of this post. The things I would do differently for Heron's character and overall involvement in the narrative.
The show would've gone on for its five-season run time as promised.
I would've had Heron interact with his half-siblings more, because we barely got anything from the show. Like Heron had more interactions with Hera WAY more than his own siblings. (Besides Seraphim).
Loved to see Heron ACTUALLY speak with his uncles: Hades and Poseidon. Plus, I would've loved to see him interact with Hestia at least once.
A little more Heron x Alexia because let's be honest here. That little kiss season 3 threw at us for fanbase wasn't enough for me. All it did was piss me off even more than the season already did.
Lastly, at least, one scene with Heron reuniting with his father like he did his mother. Because I found it pretty stupid that Zeus wasn't shown to have a LICK of remorse for his DEAD CHILDREN!!! Like WTF!!!
Bonus - Plus, I am still pissed off by the writer's LETTING ZEUS COME BACK!!! But NOT Ares, Hephaestus OR Persephone. PISSED!
In conclusion, I genuinely loved Blood of Zeus and all its characters. Heron was a nice protagonist, and I would've loved to see more of him in the future. Sadly, we cannot for his journey and ours is over.
But here's the thing if I ever rewatch Blood of Zeus. I will NOT rewatch season 3 and I will treat it like GOT fans treat season 8. If you know, you know.
Thank you, guys, so much for reading this mini-series I had fun writing it. Hoped you guys enjoyed it.
Blind Love and Silent Hearts - Chapter 8. On the Hunt for a Goddess Pt. 1 - The Hunt Begins
Summary: The hunt for the mystery goddess is about to begin. However, where the hunting party is still trying to gather two siblings proceed to bump heads.
The plans have been made, and the game has been set. The hunter and his companions gear up and prepare for the glorious day ahead.
Today was the day their skills would be combined to help them achieve their goals. Their weapons have been prepared and prepped, with bows strung and minds just as sharp as the arrows in their quivers.
Before the sun kisses the sky and the forest inhabitants stir from sleep, the trio of hunters enters the forest with determined hearts and minds set.
They were ready.
The hunt has begun.
~ * ~
It did not take long.
Before he knew it, dawn arose, and Ares was more than ready.
When the stars slowly faded away, the sky above turned from its onyx shade to a beautiful vision of pastel purple blending into a pale blue with a peak of gold slowly slipping in.
Ares’s eyes snapped open, and the drowsiness of sleep left him immediately. Usually, the war god wouldn’t have woken up this early unless he was going to do some early morning training. However, today he was a god on a mission.
A mission to find the goddess who engraved her mark in his mind and his soul.
He rose from the comforts of his bed, the silken sheets shifting away from his bare torso. Showcasing a wonderful sight of firm sculpted abs and muscles, a body so impressive it could make any woman swoon.
Goddess.
Nymph.
Mortal.
It didn’t matter, just one look at his hardened physique could have women crawling into his bed within minutes. A feature about himself that always boosted his arrogance.
Once out of bed, Ares stretched his dormant muscles before walking his way over to his private bath. His bare feet slapped against the cold obsidian marble surface. When he was inside, he stripped out of his black toga skirt and sank into the warm steaming pool. He scrubbed himself off quickly, dried, and walked his way back into his main bedchamber. Which was as much as you could expect from the god of war.
Walls aligned with onyx banners bearing his symbol, a crimson red helm of war with two crossed swords behind it. Touches aligned the grand crimson walls, along with various swords that hung as if they were works of priceless art. Spears were placed like prized trophies and the two bronze shields completed the look. Glass urns that depicted his triumphs in war and conquest stood proudly on their pedestals. At the front of the room, a grand obsidian fireplace stood decorated with other trinkets of war. In front of it, there lay a mighty sitting area with two red cushioned chairs facing each other over the beautifully crafted mahogany table that his brother had crafted, with a red couch facing the fireplace. Behind Ares rested his grand bed, that was draped in black and crimson silk sheets. With black and crimson drapes covering the top and the sides giving him the perfect canopy. To his right an obsidian table with eight matching chairs stood in front of three grand arched windows that were decorated with black and crimson curtains. The center archway leading out to an even grander balcony, that overlooked both Olympus and the mortal world.
Ares’s bedchambers were grand indeed and that wasn’t all that was in there, for to his left were two rooms hidden behind double doors. In them lay his private bath and his massive closet. Although right now Ares was standing in front of a long body mirror, dressing in his usual onyx armor.
Slipping on a short sleeved grey tunic with the skirt ending just above his knees. Soon after, he fastened his chest plate and battle skirt. The surface of the chest plate gleamed like a black diamond in the torch light. The armor fills out his form perfectly, giving others the idea of how much power he wielded just by his body alone. Next, Ares sat on the nearby bench to place his war sandals on his feet clipping them into place, along with his black spiked gauntlets. When that was finished, he stood and added the final touch to his armor. A black cape that fell down his back and ended a little past his calves. A cape that flowed graciously in the wind and completed the set. Showcasing his stature as the god of war perfectly. He clipped the cape in place and gazed into the shining mirror before him, confidence and pride sky oozing from him in waves. He smirked.
He was ready.
With one last glance at the crystal mirror and a simple comb through his onyx hair, Ares pivoted on his heel and walked out of his bedchambers. His strides to the gardens were filled with determination and purpose. Today, a goddess was to be found, and he was ready to find her. Whoever she was, he was determined to know why he was acting this way and why he craved her strange air.
Soon he would know, and soon he would see her once more.
***
The gardens were silent when Ares arrived, and how could they not be?
In contrast to him, Olympus remained dormant at sunrise, as Apollo was still preparing to usher in the golden morning.
Ares stood at the entrance to the gardens, leaning against the trunk of a wide, sturdy tree. Arms crossed, the god of war’s crimson eyes remained alert and menacing as he observed the surrounding area. Watching and waiting for any sign of movement, from the birds in the sky or one of the many nosy nymphs that he hoped were still asleep. Other than that, he was mainly waiting impatiently for his siblings.
His pointer finger tapped irritatingly against his muscular forearm, as his eyes continued their search.
Watching.
Waiting.
As he waited, the war god’s mind drifted. He had another dream, one that was of course about her. The mystery goddess, whose warmth and aura touched him tenderly whilst he slumbered the previous night. In the dream he wasn’t in the flowery meadow like he was before, but instead on the beach, with her.
***
The sun was dipping low beneath the rolling waves as the water kissed the shore before pulling back to repeat the same motion. The tide rising and falling with each sweep of water, that playfully lapped at the sand. However, that wasn’t the only thing marvelous about the scene. It was the warm and romantic tones that the sunset painted in the sky. Lavender purple and rose pink blended perfectly with the golden-orange light of the fading sun. The horizon danced with an elegant and warm array of colors, that looked like it belonged in a tapestry. It was perfect, but not as perfect as his moment with the goddess of his ever-heartfelt dreams.
On the shoreline, walking peacefully on the golden sand were Ares and the mystery goddess. It was strange to see him in a setting such as this one, but it was beautiful all the same.
Ares wore a simple tunic; the garment was dark grey in color and covered his whole torso with the skirt ending above his knees. The tunic had short sleeves that ended at his shoulders, along with a small silver trim on the sleeves and skirt. His feet were bare as he walked the shoreline, letting the sand slip between his toes in a gentle caress. While his calloused left hand was clasped proudly and firmly in the gentle hand of the goddess next to him. Who was also in a marvelous dress as gracious as her.
Just like his tunic, her dress also ended above her knees and was both simple and stunning. Her chiton dress was as white as her gorgeous hair that flowed behind her like a comet tail and was flowing in waves just like the ones that hit the sand. The dress featured subtle gold accents on the straps and the skirt's trim, and, like him, she was also barefoot. Letting the warm sand gently slip between her toes. She wore a dazzling smile, and her eyes were alighting with an emotion that had made his heart leap. Her face was illuminated by the fading sun, making the freckles on her cheeks shine akin to diamonds. Ares couldn’t take his eyes off her, she was radiant.
Unfortunately, in his dream Ares and the goddess didn’t speak to one another like they did in the last one, but it didn’t seem to matter.
Instead of talking they walked along the beach, occasionally letting the cool water tickle their feet. He would watch, as the goddess shivered playfully before jumping into his arms like a damsel in need of saving. Ares would laugh a hearty laugh before spinning with her in his arms, protected and nestled tightly in his embrace. Both of them, laughing and overjoyed at being together in this type of way.
When he stopped his breath came out in breathless puffs of air as if he had just fought long and hard in battle. Except that wasn’t the case, as his breathing became heavy and short for another reason. As he locked eyes with the goddess that was hoisted up in his arms.
Clouded meeting crimson.
Ares suddenly became aware of the position he was in, the position they were in. Her arms around his strong neck. His right arm was hooked under her knees with his hand resting on her thigh, while his other arm wrapped around her waist helping her stay upright and close.
Very close.
So, close that their foreheads were but a whisper to touching.
All at once, the beach seemed to fade away. The sound of the crashing waves blurred out and his senses dulled further. Until Ares could do nothing but rely on his sight, as his eyes only beheld the sight of her.
Her beauty.
Her radiance.
Her simple, but grand elegance.
The sun didn’t do much to help either, for it illuminated her soft and gentle features even more. Pulling him in the way the moon pulled in the tide, receding only to push back and sweep up more of the sand. Taking more of the shore with it. Piece by piece. Grain by grain. However, just as the ocean takes, it also gives back.
Holding her like this Ares felt something inside him get taken, but it wasn’t in a bad way. Everything that defined him, every negative trait was leaving and being taken by the tide. While something else lighter and warmer was being returned. He didn’t know what it was, but it made his chest burn and tighten. His heart sped up, and his desires pooled to the surface.
The war god’s crimson eyes flickered downward and landed on the goddess’s plump pink lips. Lips that he saw curve into a delightful smile that was even brighter than the sun. Lips that he saw form an adorable frown when displeased. Lips. . . That released a breath of air mingling harmoniously with his own and inch by inch were coming closer.
The air between them grew hotter and utterly irresistible. Before he knew it Ares couldn’t stop himself, just like the ocean waves behind him he leaned in. His mind, body, and soul gravitating towards her without a thought or moment of hesitation.
She was the moon.
He was her tide.
Pulling towards the other effortlessly in tandem and never once wanting to stop. The pull was a hot volcanic fire. It was a marvelous feeling of desire. It was as dangerous as any monster. It was as ravenous as a raging war.
Ares wanted it.
He wanted it all.
Soon, their lips were just a hair away their breaths brushing against each other once more. His eyes were lidded ready to savor what was about to be one of the greatest feelings he had ever experienced.
Holding her close, his eyes locked on her lips one more time before finally. . .
***
SNAP!
A loud and irritating click of fingers startled him. Ares’s eyes blinked in rapid succession as they held the same lingering drowsiness when one would wake from a deep slumber.
Did he. . .
Did he fall asleep?
“Rise and shine war hog,” came the mocking voice of one annoying bastard sister. Ares blinked before finally resting his crimson gaze on the smug face of Artemis. The goddess of the hunt’s arms was crossed and a smirk that made Ares’s face curl into a sneer, rested upon her divine features.
“I am surprised, at you brother,” Artemis said tilting her head trying little to contain her amusement.
Ares became even more irritated, “And just what exactly surprises you so, sister?” He sneered some more, while spitting out the word ‘sister’ as if it were a slur.
The goddess’s expression never faltered, finding the situation too amusing to even try to bite back at her brother’s words.
“I just finding it surprising that the god of war can in fact be punctual. Usually, you are always the last one in the door at council meetings, coming back from some made up skirmish or whatever.” Artemis then waved her hand dismissively, “That was until I found you here sleeping away peacefully and out in the open no less. Letting down your guard for just a few measly minutes is not something you’re prone to do. Hence my immediate shock.”
The huntress stalked up slowly to the war god, her grin wolfish and her stare borderline mockery. “I do hope that the mighty god of war hasn’t lost his touch,” Artemis smirked driving her brother more on the brick of irritation as they became locked in a staring contest.
Time seemed to tick by, yet it was only a few seconds. Soon it was her who broke the early morning stare down, turning her back to lean against the trunk of the tree across from her elder brother.
“If so then what a shame, oh well at least we still have Athena,” she commented nonchalantly while letting out a mock sigh in disappointment. Failing to notice the expression of sheer murder that crossed in Ares’s eyes at mention of their golden half-sister.
Zeus's favorite child.
“Considering the given past,” Artemis said looking thoughtful. “Athena has come through for Olympus and for many mortals alike. In fact, she was the reason for the profit of olives, which was why she claimed Athens from our uncle. Then it was her tactical and practical battle skills that helped us during the war between the Titans and Giants. Without her brilliance alongside father’s strength and will. We would’ve fallen a long time ago.”
Ares jaw tightened, the nerve in his muscle twitching. He was standing straight now, his body no longer leaning against the tree and his arms weren’t crossed in the usual way. Now, he stood tall his hands to his sides clenched in fury, and his body rigid. However, he didn’t say anything, instead he just continued to listen. To agonizingly listen, to the words that flooded endlessly out of the huntress’s mouth.
“Since Athena is so capable and is worthy of the praise and recognition, she gets from those around her. The pantheon. Mortals. . . Father.” She paused, flicking her cold gaze towards him, “It makes you wonder where you fall into all of this, doesn’t it? I mean, who truly cares for war? At least the brutality of it anyway. It is strategy and wisdom that is preferred over sheer strength. Athena has both while you have-”
“HOLD YOUR TOUNGUE!” Ares roared in fury, “I have had enough of your belittling huntress!” Ares said pointing an angry finger towards the moon goddess. “You forget to whom you are speaking to! I am Ares, the son of Zeus the sky father and Hera queen of the heavens. I am their legitimate son; I outrank you and have higher value compared to you. I am the god of war, a title that I carry with honor and pride. I warn you, don’t EVER disrespect me or my position by comparing me to that overgrown owl!”
Ares dropped his hand and let it clench as his side once again, “Athena may be father’s preferred child, but I am ten times the god she is. The warrior she is.” Artemis stood firm, not even flinching when her brother towered over her form. She still stayed vigilant, keeping her gaze locked with his.
“Even now I stand above you and continue to do so since it is what the fates have decided since the beginning.” He growled out, “Between you and me, I believe you should show me some respect.”
“Respect is earned, not automatically given to those you believe it to be their right,” the goddess shot back standing her ground even more. “You are no exception, with your pride and arrogance. Traits that are toxic in any man that his walked Gaia’s earth. Traits that have been the downfall to many a man or us as gods.”
“What you trying to say?” His eyes narrowed, but the implication of the stare was obvious. It was threatening and it screamed for a challenge.
“What I am saying, war dog!” Ares growled again, but Artemis didn’t care. Instead, she pushed passed him to at least get some space, because to be fair she was feeling trapped. “Is that you rely too much on your ego that you never think things through.” She turned to face him, “Where Athena relies on wisdom and her brain for how to take an enemy with a single blow. You charge in headfirst, waving that ridiculous hammer of yours thinking that it will solve anything. Which won’t always get you far in a fight or outside it.”
“At least it is efficient!” He shouted out, “While you are too busy loading your accursed bow with arrows. I am taking down enemies left and right. Putting out more of my weight and skill on the battlefield! I deserve more recognition than anyone in the pantheon! More praise! More devotion! More glory! Greatness that should be mine and mine alone!”
Ares’s crimson eyes flashed, while Artemis remained emotionless. Her arms crossed as her brother continued his tirade. Taking the opportunity to just listen instead of passing on judgement.
At least not yet.
“But no matter how hard I try, I am always left in the shadows while Athena and the rest of you stand under the golden light. Raised up high on pedestals where I deserve to stand!”
“Is it where you deserve to stand?” Artemis questioned. Causing Ares to pause and narrow his eyes once again towards his half-sister. “In my opinion, many of us have pulled in more weight than you have and unlike you we have done way more work to rise where we are now. We may be illegitimate offsprings of Zeus, but we have done more and have constantly worked harder to gain the respect of the pantheon. However, it is individuals like you and your mother that makes our hard work feel like nothing.”
Now, it was Artemis who was cornering Ares. Her hands clenched at her sides and her neck was craning towards him. Her midnight blue eyes burned heavily into his crimson making sure he had no choice but to meet her heated gaze.
“All you do is whine and throw tantrums whenever father refuses to pat you on the back. You storm your way through everything, leaving only destruction in your wake. Jumping headfirst into things without fully thinking things through -”
“I do think things through!”
“Oh really,” Artemis countered back. “I find that very hard to believe given the circumstances that you are in right now.”
“What exactly do you mean by that?” Ares questioned angrily. Daring deep down for his bastard sister to throw another insult his way, he was ready for it.
“This mystery goddess of yours that you are desperately trying to find. Is the perfect example to my point,” out of all the things she could’ve said. Ares was not expecting this.
The god of war took a tentative step backward as if she personality slapped him, and he recoiled at the touch. What was she talking about? What was she trying to imply about the goddess that he was actively searching for? How was she the perfect example towards one of the many flaws that was actively being thrown in his face?
“How is she the perfect example? She has nothing to do with how I have been acting. She is innocent in all of what you are trying to accuse her of!” Ares said angerly.
“Is she though?” The moon goddess questioned, “How can you be so sure she is innocent? You said so yourself, that she is a mystery. A goddess who has never shown her face until now. We do not even know how she got to Olympus.”
“She is a goddess, obviously she flashed up here,” Ares defended.
“But how did she know to come here? Even if she did flash onto the mountain, she would have needed a clear idea of where to land. And if serves me correctly, she is blind.” Artemis pressed the word towards her brother as if it would help him understand where in fact she was coming from. “How would she have known to land in the gardens, if she has never set her eyes on the sky? None of it makes sense! Either she was brought here by someone, or she somehow knew to land in a secluded area. Hiding her arrival to Olympus, meaning she could’ve snuck up here.”
The more his sister spoke, the more Ares’s inner thoughts started to turn in his head. Thinking back on it now, Ares had to admit it was suspiciously odd. If a goddess such as her has never appeared before, then why show her face now? And why to him of all the gods? Yes, she calmed him down with her warmth and soft presence. However, she could’ve just moved on from him, avoided his whirling storm of rage and hate. Yet, she didn’t. She approached him, a dangerous being, and soothed his dark heart. Plus, it was too convenient that she was somehow in the gardens that day. How she just appeared out of nowhere and decided to help him, the despised son of Zeus. The feared god of war and never-ending bloodlust. On of the most powerful and dangerous gods that his graced Mount Olympus. Why? Just why did she aid him? Why did she appear before him?
Was it coincidental?
Was it an act of kindness?
Was it an expression of sympathy?
Was it the will of the fates?
He didn’t know and the questions kept piling up to where they weren’t making any more sense than when this whole situation began. Ares felt his mind slowly, tearing itself to pieces trying to solve problems where the answers do not lie behind one door, but a mass corridor of doors. Each one leading to different possibilities. A different set of answers, that no doubt came with other set of questions.
It was maddening.
“She might be dangerous.” The words of Artemis cut through Ares’s inner turmoil and confusion. Snapping him back into reality, taking him from the corridor of vast doors. Back to the place where he stood in front of the huntress at the entrance to the gardens.
“What?”
“All I am saying is. . .” She then took a breath, her tone becoming serious. “Is that this goddess you're looking for, could be a potential danger to the rest of the pantheon. She could easily shake the foundation of Olympus and cause a great stir dooming us all. She might seem sweet and innocent on the outside, but she could be a snake on the inside. Slithering into our scared space, ready to poison us at any given moment. And if so, we need to destroy the serpent’s head before it can sink its fangs into our flesh.”
To the ears and minds of others, Artemis’s words made a lot of sense. Drawing in the possible reality of the fact that this goddess. Could be a foe standing under the guise of a friend or potential ally. Under normal circumstances, Ares would’ve been quick to jump the suspicion chariot.
Alas, this wasn’t a normal circumstance, and Ares wasn’t liking what his bastard sister was implying. Despite her words ringing with the painful sting of reality. Ares’s mind couldn’t think to buy into the idea that the clouded-eyed goddess was a possible danger.
The goddess that swarmed Ares’s mind like a buzzing hive of bees. Whose presence filled his used to be war plague dreams, with her radiant smile. A smile that brought his defenses down unexpectedly and warmed his soul. Her warmth, which was as welcoming as the sun’s, embraced him as if he were sitting by the hearth. A goddess whose beauty was as beautiful as a delicate flower petal and with a voice that could easily be as enchanting as a lullaby.
A goddess, whose eyes saw through Ares’s soul, even though she herself was blind. She achieved what many others with working eyes could not. Despite them only meeting once and his dreams being the only times he has seen her thus far. This goddess, that lovely and beautiful goddess.
Saw Ares for himself.
Something that deep down he had wanted, for someone to see past him being a god. To see past what he could give them in return for offering their time to him. Someone to see past his status and power. Someone who would see past the fact that he was the scorned child of Zeus and Hera, a disappointment that wasn’t said aloud but implied. Someone who could see past his faults and self-loathing to only see. . . Him.
The goddess did that and he had no doubt she would again once he found her. The sweet and kind goddess that made his heart leap out of his chest the more he thought of her.
Her smile.
Her warmth.
Her kindness.
Her beauty.
The more he had thought of these wonderful things about her. The more furious he became at the accusations being thrown against her way by his graceless bastard sister.
“You shall watch what you say about her, you don’t even know what you are speaking!” He roared again, his fist, clenched and teeth bared. To Artemis he looked almost like a feral wolf snarling at her than a god in raging fury. “The goddess to whom you speak about, is nothing like you are accusing her of. She is kind, innocent, and is as caring as our aunt Hestia. You have no right to consider that she even is a vile monster! YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW HER -”
“And neither do you!” Artemis cut back. “You only met her once Ares! Once! The only other time was in a dream! A hallucination of your own making that was painted by Morpheus. Which doesn’t count, even if it was a path of her communicating with you. That moment in the gardens was your first time meeting. You are letting your uncontrolled feelings get in the way of logic. Do you know her name? Her goddess domain? Do you know her parents? Any else about her that would purposely change my suspicions towards her? Anything at all?”
Ares could say anything, all he just did was tilt his head down in silence giving Artemis her answer.
“Exactly, you know nothing and once again you are diving headfirst into a situation without thinking about the consequences. Or about the danger you could put all of us in, because you want to chase after another goddess that you are no doubt going to try and bring into your bed!” Artemis glared her own mouth curling into a vicious sneer, but then she noticed Ares’s returned rigid posture and she let a humorless breath. “That’s it, isn’t it? You want to find her to bed her.”
She breathed out another laugh, “Why am I surprised? Men are all the same. It is in your nature after all. Man’s nature. To think less with their brains, and more with the thing that hangs uselessly between their legs. That thing that they so proudly call their pride. Honestly, it would make sense if the real reason you want to find this goddess of yours is because you. . .”
Artemis took a step closer, “. . . Just want another whore.”
That did it.
Ares’s head slowly rose, and he met his sister’s gaze once more, his eyes burning again with rage. “Don’t,” he began slowly. “Ever call her a whore. She. . . Is purer than you will ever be, because you are just -”
“A what?” Artemis’s eyes narrowed as she knew exactly what her brother was going to say, but she continued to press. “Say it, brother. How exactly is she purer than me? Go on, say it. I know you are itching to.”
Ares noticed Artemis’s right hand started to glow its sliver light, his brain summing up that she was getting ready to call forth her trusted bow the moment he said his next words. If Artemis wanted to play this game than, so be it. He was craving a good fight anyway. So, Ares followed his sister’s actions, and his own right hand began to glow with a crimson light. Ready to summon his trusted war hammer.
“As I said,” Ares’s eyes glowed crimson too. “The reason why she is purer than you, is because she. . .”
Artemis’s eyes started glowing sliver, and Ares followed suit his own eyes glowing a fierce scarlet.
“Is not. . .”
The area around them crackled with divine energy, strong and potent.
“An ungrateful. . .”
The glow in their hands became brighter, as the tension grew even heavier. As Ares let his next word tumble out of his mouth. The word that would no doubt have doomed him entirely.
“BAS -”
“GOOD MORNING, MY WONDERFUL SIBLINGS!” The enthusiastic voice of Hermes cut through the open area. “A perfect morning if I do say so myse-” Hermes cut himself off as he finally noticed the tense atmosphere and the god standoff that he unknowingly stopped from turning into an early morning bloodbath.
“Oh, my Gaia, seriously?! The sun has barely risen and you two are already fighting?”
“HE STARTED IT!” “SHE STARTED IT!” Both the war god and huntress shouted together, pointing a finger at the other.
“Of course, you would say that I was the cause of this! Men always blaming the female for their folly! Some things never seem to change with your kind!” Artemis shouted anger still pulsing through her veins.
“MY KIND?! You make us sound like animals! It was in fact you, because you were the one to invoke my anger!” Ares had countered back towards his infuriating sister, “And stop blaming everything upon men. Women can have faults and be the cause of several issues if not more than men can!”
“YOU TAKE THAT BACK!”
“MAKE ME MOON WITCH!”
“Why did I leave my bed this morning?” Hermes whined, “I was having a nice dream where Aunt Hestia gave me a lifetime supply of her ambrosia cakes. WITH the honey glaze.”
***
It took a moment, but in an outstanding effort. Hermes had settled the tempers of Ares and Artemis. Of course, the two of them were still glaring daggers at one another, their eyes contemplating the other’s murder.
Finally, after some coaxing from Hermes, along with some back-and-forth death threats from the war and moon deities.
The trio finally began their journey into the gardens. To where it all began.
A/N: Hey guys! So, chapter 8 of Blind Love and Silent Hearts is officially OUT! I wanted to say I loved writing this chapter and I hope you guys like it. Sorry if it seems shorter than normal but the next chapter will hopefully be a bit longer than this one. Anyway, so before I write or complete chapter 9. I plan on updating my other stories or mainly update my 'Coming Back from Destruction' story. If you guys haven't checked it out, you should as well as my others. Like "The Adventures of the 14th Olympian: Luna Goddess of Galaxies" or "Daughter to a Tyrant." Which I plan on updating that one. I am in the works for a one-shot story where Percy Jackson ends up playing video games with a certain Olympian. However, that hasn't released yet, and I plan on only releasing it on Ao3. Finally, I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter and I will see you all soon.
Just a stupid little funny idea I had. This is what happens when you think of things at 1:30 in the morning.
Percy: *Showing a new camper around Camp Half-Blood. *
New Camper: So, you're saying that my (Mom/Dad) is a god, making me a half god?
Percy: *Nods* Yep! However, the correct term is demigod. Unfortunately, even though you are a demigod, we won't know who your godly parent is until they claim you.
New Camper: Gotcha, so who is your parent?
Percy: Sally Jackson.
New Camper: ???
Percy: *Realizes* Oh godly right! Sorry, its Poseidon.
New Camper: Poseidon? God of the seas?
Percy: That's the one!
New Camper: Isn't he a merman?
Percy: Mostly when he is in his domain, yes. But other than that, he is just a middle-aged man that wears terrible Hawaiian shirts.
New Camper: Hmm. . . I see. So, your mom f&#ked a fish?
Percy: *Shocked*
New Camper: What? I am not wrong, am I? *Light appears and the symbol of Hermes shows up over their head. *
Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 4: Kofi's Death
Warning: Spoilers!
Alright, so as requested, Kofi won the poll. So, let's get started. These are my thoughts on Kofi's death and overall involvement in the narrative of Blood of Zeus.
Disclaimer: This is just my honest opinions, and I appreciate if you guys don't hound me for my opinions. Please and thank you.
Also, if you haven't checked them out. Here are all the parts of my Blood of Zeus thoughts miniseries. Enjoy!
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 1: Ares's Death - https://www.tumblr.com/starfire1657/783136352325795840/blood-of-zeus-season-3-thoughts-part-1-aress?source=share
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 3: Persephone's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 3: Persephone's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 5: Heron's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 5: Heron's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Okay, before we start, I just need to address this. I wanted to say I am sorry; this took so long everyone. After getting back from my vacation, I had to get back into the norm. But other than that, I want to thank you guys for reading this post. Now on with the show.
From this miniseries we have covered the deaths of Ares, Hephaestus, and Persephone. The only ones we have yet to cover are Kofi and Heron. Thankfully, because of the majority vote, we are finally at Kofi. One of my favorite cinnamon rolls, and the ONLY African American man on this show.
In the show Blood of Zeus, Kofi easily became one of the many beloved characters from this series. A man whose charm and personality captured, audience's hearts. Well, mainly mine because Kofi was super sweet and funny at times. However, seriously WHY DID THEY HAVE TO KILL THE MAN OFF?! As a black person, I am offended. Like they just HAD to kill the ONLY black guy. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
Anyway, before I officially start to reopen some wounds. Let's run through how this works first, for the newcomers.
So, if anyone is not familiar with how this works. It goes as follows; I will go over four different sections concerning the character's death from season 3. I will go over their death, their sacrifice, their remembrance, and if their character potential was in fact wasted among the narrative. Then at the end, I will give a list of what I would've done differently to the character's story if I rewritten it. However, since Kofi doesn't have a remembrance scene like the others do. Still, I will put something in that section but will put in there what I think should've been seen or somewhat. With that being said without further ado.
Here are my thoughts on Kofi's death and involvement in the story narrative.
When we meet Kofi, the man was introduced to us in season 1, episode 4. Where his calm and gentle nature made him a fan favorite. Plus, the chemistry he had between his partner in crime, Evios was something to delight in too.
Up first on the list is Kofi's death. Just a little recap, in season 3, episode 6. Heron and his team go to the home of the wind gods to acquire Harmonia's necklace. I want to bribe Charon to allow Gorgo to cross the River Styx and hopefully go to the Elysium Fields for her safety. However, while they were there, a titaness pitted them against each other, and the only way that they defeated her was through Kofi. Who killed her and him to allow his friends to complete their mission and remove an annoying foe? As I have said before, WHY DID THEY HAVE TO KILL OFF THE ONLY BLACK GUY?! Like, WHERE IS THE JUSTICE?! Personally, I feel attacked, in some way. Believe what you want, I will do whatever.
Next up is Kofi's sacrifice, I have got to say. Kofi had a really great sacrifice, and his mindset for going out was unfortunate, but sweet at the same time. Like he lost his wife a long time ago, and now he gets to rejoin her in the afterlife. Which is heartbreakingly sweet. Leaving him to have no regrets about what he was about to do. Kofi, you are awesome.
Third is Kofi's remembrance. Sadly, Kofi never was shown to have a moment of remembrance like Ares, Hephaestus, Persephone, and Heron do. However, that doesn't mean in some way he wasn't remembered for his sacrifice. Even though we don't see this I have no doubt that Evios, held a mini self-service for his best friend.
Finally, was Kofi the victim of wasted character potential? Kind of, to some extent. I feel like Kofi had already amazing character potential, I would've said that with 100% full confidence IF the show didn't drop a new set of lore for Kofi that I feel like should've been explored more. Or at least expanded upon in the right way. For a refresher, we learned that Kofi had a wife that was killed by her jealous ex betrothed. Then Kofi was sold into slavery. Me personally, I feel like if the show continued on like it was supposed to. Then we could've explored more of the characters backgrounds. So, I do believe more could've been done for Kofi's character. To where we as the audience, could love him more than we already do.
Now we have reached the part of the section where I write what I would've done for Kofi's character in the story's narrative.
I would've made Blood of Zeus have all 5 seasons. So, we could've expended on Kofi's character.
I would've dived more into Kofi's past and background more.
Would've shown some scenes with his wife.
I would totally dedicate an episode to Kofi alone. Like if we can have one for Hades and Persephone, along with Seraphim than why not one for Kofi?
Lastly, let me see a scene with Kofi being remembered by Evios.
In conclusion, I feel like we should've seen more of Kofi. But I do believe that Kofi was an amazing character that we have seen in the show. RIP Kofi, you will always be our, (or at least mine), sweet cinnamon roll.
Okay, guys the last part of this series is coming next week, and it is going to be our favorite hero. Heron! Thank you for reading Kofi's thoughts and opinions. I will see you guys' next time.
As the hunter realizes his target is nowhere to be seen, he tries again to catch his most desired prize.
However, he fails repeatedly, and his frustrations begin to surface.
As hope seems lost and the hunter is ready to quit, a light forms at the end of the tunnel, and he is offered a helping hand.
He stares at the hand and the smiling faces of his friends. Initially, he wants to reject it. He wants to turn the offer away because his pride is too great, and he doesn’t need the help of others to enter his own appointed mission.
Alas, the more he reflected on his struggles, the more he realized that it would take not just himself but the help of others to find his prize and that maybe he needed more than his skill to succeed.
So, the hunter takes the hand, setting his pride to the side and allowing others to join his hunt. Accepting the aid he had wanted to abandon, the hunter’s party grew by two.
~ * ~
Throughout the rest of the afternoon, Ares stood in his study with his siblings, going over details and plans for finding the goddess of mystery.
It didn’t take much time convincing Artemis to help with the hunt. Mainly because it was Hermes who made the convincing decision. In comparison, Ares constantly tried to get her back out by throwing remark after remark towards her. This, in turn, caused Artemis to bite back as well, and soon, more than once, Hermes had to be the one to keep them from killing each other.
After a session of bickering and arguing, along with a hint of comedic quips from Hermes. The messenger god quickly briefed his sister on the situation, and soon the divine siblings finally devised a plan of action towards finding Ares’s goddess.
Well, it mainly was Artemis, but the boys (reluctantly on Ares’s part) agreed.
Their plan was simple: At dawn, they would meet at the spot where the goddess appeared to Ares in the gardens and track her from there. However, tracking her might be slightly more difficult with the gardens in such a disastrous state. At the mention of the challenge, Artemis briefly glared at the war god, her expression conveying her emotions. Ares returned the look with his sharp glare, but thankfully (for Hermes), he didn’t
say anything to the huntress. Instead, they just stood there constantly exchanging sharp and murderous glances at one another.
Hermes wanted to sigh in relief until he remembered something his sister had said about their plan.
“Wait. . . At dawn? As in when the sun is just coming up?” Hermes questioned, eyebrows furrowing on his face, “Tomorrow?”
“No, next week,” Ares replied sarcastically with an added eye roll. “Of course, she meant tomorrow. What did you think she meant?!” The war god shouted at his brother. Seriously, was his brother always such an idiot?
“Hey, I was just trying to clarify that I heard right,” the messenger god said, defending himself. “I just wanted to ensure you were on the same page.”
“I already was on the same page, unlike you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Ares’s crimson eyes narrowed as he scrutinized his brother. However, before he could say anything, Artemis stepped in.
“What the brute -”
“Who are you calling a brute?!” Ares growled, but Artemis ignored him.
“My apologies,” she apologized mockingly. “What that wild boar over there is trying to say is, what is so concerning to you about waking up at dawn? We all know you have a lot on your shoulders as the messenger of the gods and the guide of souls. On the other hand, you have practically been begging to get that thing…” Artemis then jabbed her thumb at Ares.
Causing the god in question to side eye the spear hanging on the wall behind the huntress, wondering if it would be such a terrible idea to lodge the shining weapon in his bastard sister’s abdomen. Honestly, that idea brought a sinister and satisfied smile to his lips. This caused Hermes to sweat nervously and fearfully, as he wondered what malicious thoughts were churning inside his brother’s subconscious.
“…To let you help with this quest. So, I ask you, brother, is there something you must do at dawn that is a cause for your sudden concern?” She had asked her little brother.
“Tomorrow is Saturday,” he expressed honestly, causing his siblings to raise an eyebrow at him. “I… Like to sleep in.”
The deadpan expressions that Ares and Artemis gave him were nothing short of amusing. As predicted, Artemis mumbled something under her breath and rubbed her temples, while Ares just glared and slowly stalked towards him as if he were a feral beast.
“Let me get this straight. " Ares loomed over Hermes now, his crimson eyes slightly glowing scarlet. “You are concerned about waking up at dawn, not because of some important matter. But instead, it's because you don’t want to waste a few extra minutes of sleep?!”
“Correction, brother, it's beauty sleep, that is important to me,” Hermes responded while trying to find the nearest exit. Just in case his brother decided to kill him.
If only he would learn to stop running his damn mouth.
“To be fair, Saturday is the only day I can get extra hours of sleep. I am a busier god than you, and I rarely have decent moments to relax.” He exclaimed, his eyes meeting his elder brother’s.
Hermes saw a flicker of understanding in his brother’s eyes momentarily. As Hermes was one of the busiest Olympians, it was justified that the speedster would want to cherish his little downtime.
Ares, for his part, understood wholeheartedly his brother’s busy schedule. Heck, he even contributed to the gods’ hurrying tasks from time to time. He may be a heartless bastard at times, but Ares once had a slight sympathy for his half-brother.
For once.
“Besides, brother,” Hermes said, smoothing the right side of his hair. “You could use some beauty sleep; you don’t want those scowl lines to frighten your poor goddess now, do you?”
And the sympathy was gone.
All too quickly, Ares lunged at his brother, and Hermes swiftly moved out of his reach. Hermes has never been more grateful for being the god of speed. Unfortunately, Ares also had some swift reflexes, and the war god grabbed his younger brother by the collar of his cape and locked him in a chokehold.
“YOU FLEET-FOOTED BRAT!”
“WAIT! I DIDN’T MEAN IT! I DIDN’T MEAN IT!” Came the desperate but choked cry of the messenger god. Who flailed about in his elder brother’s hold, while trying to pry the god of war’s arms off.
“WILL YOU STOP FLAILING LIKE A DAMN FISH AND HOLD STILL!” Ares cried in fury and exasperation.
“I’LL STOP FLAILING LIKE A FISH, IF YOU WEREN’T TRYING TO BREAK MY NECK!” Hermes had countered. His emotions were heightened, and even though he was mostly being playful, at the same time, the god felt his fear building.
“I AM GOING TO BREAK YOUR NECK IF YOU KEEP FLAILING ABOUT LIKE CRAZED BUFFOON!” Ares had yelled back, his frustration mounting ever the more.
“MAYBE I WOULDN’T WANT TO FLAIL SO MUCH IF I DIDN’T WANT TO BREAK. MY. NECK!”
“I DO NOT WANT TO BREAK YOUR NECK!”
“YES, YOU DO YOU LUG HEAD!”
“CALL ME A LUG HEAD ONE MORE TIME AND I AM GOING TO BREAK YOUR NECK!”
“SEE YOU DO WANT TO KILL ME!”
“At this point, it does sound like a more satisfying option,” Ares said, not yelling this time but considering his opinions. At least he would be down one annoying bastard sibling.
Hermes’s eyes widened in terror as he processed his brother’s words. “WHAT?!”
“You know what,” Ares smiled evilly. “Maybe I should, at least then I would be down one annoying sibling. Then afterwards, I will personally feed your body to my hounds.” Ares leaned down to whisper darkly and menacingly in his brother’s ear. A tone that promises immediate death.
“And trust me, brother, they are very hungry.”
Hermes was now afraid, but terrified because he hated his brother’s hounds. Mainly because when he was a child, he was chased by hellhounds throughout Olympus. Fair, he did try to make away with one of his brother’s prized spears. If it weren’t for his elder brother calling them off, he would’ve been dead. If Hermes was being honest, it was one of the moments that made the wing-footed god adore his eldest brother. He saw him as his hero. Yet it was that very exact moment as well that made him scarred for life!
Fearing for his immortal life, Hermes’s eyes darted towards his sister in sheer desperation. To this, Artemis looked like she was entirely done with life. Probably mumbling to herself about how stupid the male species is. However, Hermes didn’t care what his sister’s current opinions were. HE NEEDED RESCUING!
“SISTER! HE’S GOING TO KILL ME! HELP ME!”
Artemis just facepalmed and muttered tiredly, “How am I related to you two?”
***
Ultimately, Artemis managed to pry Hermes out of their brother’s grip. To which Hermes responded with exaggerated gratitude.
“Thank you, sister!” he said, touching his chest and panting deeply. “Any moment longer and I would’ve seen the Elysium Fields.”
Ares and Artemis rolled their eyes at him, as their brother was more theatrical than their brother Dionysus on a good day. When he isn’t nearly falling over from intoxication. Which said a lot.
After everything had settled, the divine siblings reviewed the plans one last time before Hermes and Artemis departed from their brother’s home. Well, it was more like they were kicked out rather than even given the choice.
Artemis was more than happy to leave, hoping not to EVER set foot in that abomination of a palace again. That and the more she spent in the company of her war-headed half-brother, Artemis, was sure she would load him with arrows.
Hermes, on the other hand, was secretly disappointed. He had wanted to try and see if he could spend a little more time with his eldest brother, a bit longer. He even asked subtly if he could stay to chat with his brother and sister some more over dinner, but Ares gave him the cold shoulder and a snarky comment from Artemis aimed at the war god. This caused the two to argue and bicker again. Resulting in them both getting kicked out.
The swift-footed god sighed dishearteningly, a sound his sister’s ever-sharp ears picked up on.
“What is with that sigh, brother?” The huntress asked him. “Was what that mongrel said back there affecting you?”
Artemis and Hermes were walking through the streets of Olympus, heading toward their palaces. It was dusk now, and Artemis had to raise the moon soon, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t discuss the day’s interesting events.
“Our brother is a part of my downed spirits, yes, but not in the way you're thinking,” he responded honestly. “It’s just… I had hoped that…”
Hermes took a breath, unsure how he could express his innermost thoughts. The swift-footed god loved all his half-siblings; he had no favorites. Even though it didn’t appear that way when he was always around Apollo, except this was completely different, he was already close to his half-siblings, besides Ares. He could tell them anything, but how was he supposed to tell Artemis this?
He longed to reconnect with their eldest brother, the mongrel, as she had so gently put it. Unlike their other siblings, Hermes never gave up hope that Ares would one day return and everything would be like before.
Before the war with the Titans.
Before the war with the giants.
A time in which their brother didn’t outright hate them, and called upon their death like his mother did.
Instead, it was a time when their brother, despite his jagged edges, treated them like family.
His family.
How was he supposed to tell Artemis this when she was the one to disown him first? She admitted that she would rather personally throw him into Tartarus than have any close contact with him.
It was just hard, and when hard times got him down, he just did the next best thing.
He covered it up with a smile.
“I just hoped I would get a few more hours of sleep,” he joked, stretching dramatically to prove his point. “Seriously, you and Ares are so cruel to have me wake up unnecessarily at dawn to find his goddess; it's simply unfair.”
Artemis rolled her midnight blue eyes, but Hermes didn’t miss the small smile that graced her face.
“You and you’re laziness; does it not know no bounds?”
Hermes gasped and touched his chest in mock defense, “My word! Are you accusing me of being lazy, dear sister?”
Artemis smirked and crossed her arms, “If the sandal fits.”
Hermes huffed, fixing his cloak and tossing his braided hair over his shoulder. He turned a sassy glare at his sister, and Artemis had to keep herself from laughing.
“Well, I assure you, sister, that I am a god of caliber and refinery. Accusing me of such… Slander, it is unbecoming of you, dear sister.”
Artemis just checked her nails, “I say it is very becoming of me, considering I am the elder of us two.”
“You did NOT just pull the ‘I am the eldest’ card.” Hermes gasped, pointing an accusatory finger at the huntress.
“Did! As an elder, it is within my rights to point out the more lacking qualities in my siblings, especially my brothers.” She smirked again at Hermes, who looked so scandalized it was downright laughable.
The god huffed in false indignation and stormed over to a nice balcony overlooking the vast lands of Greece. Hermes folded his arms and placed them on the railing as he gazed at the view
of the setting sun. The warm breeze brushed against his clean-shaven cheeks, and the god closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh dusk air.
Artemis watched as her mischievous brother became instantly content. The calming atmosphere engulfed him, and soon, it overcame her, too. She joined Hermes’s side at the balcony railing with quiet steps and copied his stance. The breeze blew gracefully over her face, gently tossing her silver hair in the wind.
“It is an interesting thing, don’t you think?” Hermes commented gently to his sister, eyes never leaving the horizon. “That there was always a force in the shadows that even we gods never knew about. Is there more out there that we don’t know, or are we not allowed to see?”
Artemis knew what the messenger meant, or exactly who he meant. The mysterious goddess that became their half-brother’s new obsession. Even though she heard the story from both Hermes and the rabid dog. She still couldn’t believe it, because it sounded like a wild hallucination rather than a reality. Like a goddess that no one has seen before appears out of nowhere and instantly can do what others could not.
Which was calm, the god of war, during one of his famous rampages, and he lived to tell the tale.
The goddess of the hunt was beyond skeptical.
“Just imagine it, sister,” Hermes continued, his facial expression giving way to childlike wonder. “A goddess shrouded in mystery and intrigue that even the fates might not know who she is.”
“Now that is wishful thinking, Hermes, since the fates know everything and everyone.” She had remarked, quickly giving him a reality check.
Hermes’s smile never faltered as he continued to remain in the excitement he felt. “I know, sister, but just think. A goddess, unfamiliar to us, who possesses the ability to pacify our ill-tempered brother. It sounds like a miracle to me and may be a new dawn for all of us.”
Artemis stared at her little brother momentarily before focusing on the setting sun again. Something about this didn’t sit right with her, none of it.
“You shouldn’t get your hopes up. Nothing is assured in this world, brother, not even for us gods.” Hermes’ smile fell from his face at her words, but Artemis didn’t seem to notice or care. Instead, she shared her thoughts on the matter with her brother.
“This all seems too strange, a goddess not familiar to the pantheon. Who emerged unexpectedly and departed with the same swiftness as her arrival. Leaving our brother as the only witness to have seen her. But even then, he has no true clue about who she is. No name. No trace of where she came from. There is no indication of her domain; it remains unclear. Almost as if…”
“We are chasing a ghost,” the speedster finished.
“Exactly!” Artemis expressed, throwing her hands up and standing to her full height. “Hunts are my specialty; I can track anything without even breaking a sweat. A simple hare, done. A great, strong stag, easy. A murderous cyclops, I can do that in my sleep.”
“Which is why you’re the best hunter in existence, sister. No one could ever hope to match you,” Hermes praised, causing the goddess to stand straighter with newly raised pride.
“Thank you, brother, you are starting to become my favorite.”
Hermes perked up, his lips curling into his signature teasing smile, “Truly? Am I more favorable than Apollo?”
“Only on the days he doesn’t stress about his hair,” she said with a playful eye roll.
“So, every other day then,” Hermes teased. Zeus's son and daughter burst into a fit of laughter. The air filled with revelry and warmth despite the seriousness of their current conversation. Still, as soon as their mirth died down, the atmosphere turned back serious, but thankfully, the warmth that formed between the two continued to linger in the air.
Artemis returned to her original posture beside Hermes, her form relaxed and a question on her lips.
“Tell me the truth, brother,” the huntress said, causing the god to fix his eyes on the side of her face. Artemis didn’t turn to face him, for her eyes remained on the landscape below.
“Why are you trying so hard to help Ares? He is a heartless brute who only cares about himself and his ambitions. Additionally, he treats us bastards as if we are the sins of the world, just like his wicked mother. So, why help him, brother?”
Hermes’s face dropped and was replaced with an emotion Artemis couldn’t quite entirely place.
Was it guilt?
Could it have been a sense of shame?
Whatever it was, the goddess watched as her half-brother tilted his head down slightly to stare at his hands. His fingers fidgeted, a nervous habit he had picked up over his divine years. A way to calm and slightly distract his mind when things got too real for him in certain situations.
This was one of them.
“Is Ares forcing you to aid him in this?” The moon goddess asked gently, but her voice rapidly grew to have a sharpness to it. “For if he is, you are not obligated to assist him. In battle, sometimes it is best to withdraw for your own sake. Do not let that poor excuse of a god strong-arm you into anything. Especially, to find his so-called mystery goddess, which I believe would be better off hidden, than encounter that barbarian a second time.”
Hermes didn’t know how to respond to this question properly or the additional insults towards Ares without the fear of judgement that would follow from his sister right after. What Hermes was doing was out of desire and a secret desire to help his lost brother.
Being the god of thieves, Hermes has more than once found himself blending in the shadows or under his cloak of invisibility. It was easier for the trickster to get away with a lot of things, one of those things being information, making him a remarkable spy and informant. Alas, that also left the god able to see behind the scenes for some, and sometimes, what he found out broke him.
One of those times it was Ares.
Rightfully, Hermes admits that a long time ago, he shared the same sentiment with his other half-siblings. The moment Ares turned his back on all of them and took the side of his mother, Hera. Calling them bastards and scorning their existence, all because they shared a father who was unfaithful to his wife. A father who sired illegitimate children from his countless affairs, serving as a heavy reminder of his sins. The moment that his brother’s crimson eyes turned from a look that was even considered warmth. To blood-boiling, murderous hatred, Hermes also decided to distance himself.
In contrast to his bolder siblings, the divine twins Artemis and Apollo. Hermes didn’t express his pure, unbridled hatred towards the war god. Nor did he overly avoid him, like Dionysus and Persephone (tried to at least), do. Instead, over time, he treated Ares like he does with his stepmother.
He was respectful and cordial. He never stayed long in their presence unless necessary. He never tried to make friends with them or get in their good graces. He just was there, watching and listening. He spoke when needed and approached when needed. Other than that, he stayed out of their way.
The illegitimate son of Zeus never tried to rekindle the bond that was beginning to manifest between him and his eldest brother in their youth. Deciding that it was better to leave it alone and let the chasm that divided them grow more and more over the years. Leaving no bridge to help each other cross into that lighthearted sense of familiarity and unity and separating his brother and his scornful mother on the other side. At the same time, he and his other illegitimate siblings stood tall and firm on the opposite side of the divide. Bracing together through any storm or hardship that came their way. They held on, through thick and thin.
After all, bastards stick together in this cruel realm of the gods. In all its shining glory, that was draped in gold and splendor. It was a nest of venomous snakes ready to strike any moment. There were moments when they were at peace, but peace was fleeting in the realm of the gods. Something that they only dream of.
Even so, Hermes felt that easiness mainly through the variety that he had his siblings.
Apollo.
Artemis.
Hephaestus.
Dionysus.
Persephone.
Even Athena, despite not being a bastard, was one of the many individuals in his life whom he could rely on the most. For that, Hermes was satisfied and didn’t have any need at the time to even consider bringing Ares into that same mold. As Hermes knew that his bastard hating brother would just taint that sphere of happiness that Hermes held dear, he just left it.
Until one day that all had changed.
“He doesn’t have anyone else sister,” the messenger finally spoke out. “You might not believe it or see it, but I do, and it is disheartening.”
As he spoke, Artemis raised a brow in confusion, but Hermes didn’t pay it any mind. Cause he was right, and he would have never seen it before himself if it wasn’t for that night. The moment that opened his eyes to the reality of his brother’s situation and changed his mindset permanently.
Hermes let his mind drift briefly back to a few years ago, on a warm, starry night.
***
The sky was a perfect dark blue, the stars were shining bright and brilliantly in the dark celestial blanket that divided the air from the unfathomable space of Gaia’s Earth and Poseidon’s Sea.
Hermes had just finished his trip to the underworld, delivering another soul into the realm of his uncle. A small mortal child, with a tragic end. It was his last errand for the night, and the day had been so hectic that he needed some well-deserved rest. As he walked down the streets of Olympus, giving kind smiles and waves to other deities and divine creatures, such as a dryad or satyr. Hermes made his way towards his father’s palace to give him one last report, before turning in for the night.
Unfortunately, the fates had other plans.
After giving his report, Hermes remembered passing by a private room in the palace, and the door was slightly ajar. He passed by it without care, until he heard voices inside. Curious, he backtracked and peeked through the crack in the door, an air of borderline nosiness surrounding him. He placed the hood of his cloak on his head, concealing his presence from whomever was beyond the ornate doors. However, when he peaked inside the room he was not prepared for what he saw or being witness to a conversation that wasn’t for his ears.
Ares stood in the room, his head lowered and his muscles tense. The great god of war didn’t exactly look so great now. Despite trying to appear strong and resilient, on the outside Hermes saw the sadness and pain that tried to hide deep within his blood red eyes.
Across from his brother stood his stepmother, Hera, the queen of the heavens in all her regalness and grandeur. Her purple dress flowing behind her and golden crown resting perfectly upon her brow. She was every bit the divine queen she should be, and her beauty had a sharpness to it that commanded attention. However, that beauty was tainted due to the mask of cruelty that currently graced her features.
There was shouting, mainly from her, and her voice held a sharpness that could rival any blade that Hephaestus had ever forged. Her expression was as cold and lifeless as the underworld itself. Hermes recalled how Hera appeared at that moment, observing her son with a look of disappointment rather than maternal affection. Not as a mother who was scolding her son for his behavior. Though instead more as a queen, scrutinizing her most trusted soldier.
“How could you dare embarrass yourself in such a way? Embarrass me! In front of the entire pantheon?!” Her bitter and biting words echoed through his mind, as if the memory were still fresh. “You act as though you are a child, desperately seeking attention wherever you tread. Storming through like a vengeful thunder cloud that your father conjured. Must I be cursed with such rotten luck for the men I have saddled around myself?”
He subsequently perceived footsteps, both soft yet authoritative, proceeding in a consistent rhythm.
She was pacing.
“Failure after failure, I must endure. Repeatedly! Why must fates torment me so? First with a philandering husband. Next with two disappointing sons, one whom I can barely stand to even set my gaze upon. A stain to my very good name and reputation, the other…” She stopped and Hermes at that moment saw his brother flinch. It was a diminutive moment, but it was there when the war god’s fists clenched tightly and when he saw the muscle in his jaw tense. “…My other son is a bloodlust fool who would rather think with his fists than his brain. It is no wonder that your father favors wise Athena over you, my son. She is sensible, reliable in everything she does, but where are your wits?”
Silence formed between the pair, Ares refusing to even utter a single word and deciding to keep his eyes downcast. While Hera stopped her furious pacing. Hermes observed his brother's posture, which remained rigid and unsettled. Soon, after the silence, Hera spoke again.
“Since you would rather remain silent, I shall tell you, where your wits are. Nowhere near the right place, that’s for sure. You’re too busy chasing after war and your own brother’s wife to even consider how to better your standing amongst your peers… Or your own father.” Hermes then heard her stop, but he saw Ares’s expression at the mention of their father.
He looked furious.
He looked saddened.
Heartbroken even, and Hermes felt disheartened for his brother.
“You wonder why you cannot get the recognition you deserve; it is because you act like a damn child, Ares. It is one of the many reasons why Zeus prefers his bastards over you and would gladly raise them up in ranks of status and power over you as well. Replacing you in a heartbeat and throwing you into Tartarus without a second thought.”
Hera then came back into the speedster’s view, allowing him to see her approach his brother. Her teal eyes were hard as steel and her posture equally so. Hera stopped before her eldest son and smiled at him. Except this smile wasn’t filled with warmth but something else. Something much darker and more sinister.
“Ares, my perfect son,” she said, placing her hand on the side of his face. “As your mother I intend to help you climb the ranks and restore any dignity you may have lost. For that is, but the love of a mother, and you, my eldest and highly favored son, have that love. With me helping you I will make you great again.”
The messenger god observed the scene closely as his brother’s body went to rest. Breathing out a breath of relief. Something he shouldn’t have done so soon. For as swift as he could see, the hand that Hera had on the side of his face. Immediately, shot to his neck, and he heard his brother give a ragged gasp.
From the doorway, Hermes’s eyes went wide as he saw as his brother’s knees buckled and he knelt before the oppressive queen. Though it was not in respect, but forced submission and the cruel look in Hera’s eyes made a great chill past through the messenger’s spine.
“Although, if you are to become great, it is time you change your view on things along with your childish attitude.” Hera’s voice was devoid of any emotion as she glowered at her son, her tone dark and edgy. “If it wasn’t for you being my most favored son, Ares. I would have flung you from this mountain just like I had done with your brother.” Ares lifted a hand to try and remove his mother’s iron grip from his neck, but to no avail. Hera just tilted her head and smiled, which was malicious and unforgiving.
“Just know my son, that this isn’t a means of harm but discipline. I will not have another failure of a son,” she had grounded out through her teeth. “I desire perfection, and success. Without it I am nothing… You are nothing. Thus, it is imperative that you become better in every way, my son. Then, when you do, you will not just have my love and support, but the support of the pantheon, and…”
The wife of Zeus leaned down to her son, who was still gasping for air, and whispered in his ear. As if she were telling him some big secret, “…You could finally gain the love and respect of your father like you always wanted, and with my help you could outshine those bastards. All you must do is obey and stay out of trouble. Understand?”
Ares nodded, before Hera smiled and released him. Hermes continued to watch as his half-brother fought to get air back in his lungs, he was still on the ground. Eyes were wide and filled with unshed tears, and his right hand was placed on the marble floor, and the other was rubbing his neck. Trying to regain control, but Hera wasn’t done with him yet.
“Know that I am not usually this cruel, my warrior,” Hera gently said using the nickname she gave her son when he was a child. “Nevertheless, how else am I supposed to motivate you into doing the right thing?”
Ares’s eyes gazed up at his mother eyes filled with a hidden fear, but a longing for something tender in his gaze.
“I just hope you will take what I said tonight and apply it to your memory. Will you grant me that honor, my son, and do things… My way?”
For a moment, Ares didn’t say anything, but when his breathing slowed and normalized. Ares unsteadily rose to his feet and nodded towards his mother, his determination transforming into one she found acceptable. “I will do as you command mother. I shall not fail you, again.”
Hera just smirked, “I know you won’t my son. After all it is why you are my favorite.”
Then without their knowledge, Hermes slipped away, like a thief in the night.
***
Ever since that night, Hermes had seen his brother in a different light. No longer did he see a brutish war god, that was harsh to him and cursed his name to the grave. No longer did he see an untied duo between the queen of the heavens and her son. A pair that did everything to ensure the hardships of him and his other half-siblings, for being bastards.
Zeus’s bastards.
No, instead Hermes saw something that night, something that he clearly shouldn’t have and back then he ended up pondering it for an entire month. During that time, Hermes looked at his half-brother’s and stepmother’s interactions more closely than before. He even paid more attention to Ares throughout the days. Sneaking around and watching his brother’s movements and seeing things more clearly than before. It was as though his vision had been cleared after being obscured by a dense mist.
The way Ares’s stance was.
The way Ares tried to hide his true emotions behind a curtain of arrogance and haughtiness. Deterring anyone from discovering what laid deeper beneath his harsh crimson gaze.
The way that Ares tried to gain validation and attention, through his pride and vanity. Only to either be feared or scrutinized.
Even the way that he degraded his other half-siblings without batting an eye. Putting them down like always and ready to pick fights where he shouldn’t.
All of them actions of a man, a god, that wanted something more than the surface level glory and greatness. He wanted something that would last and wouldn’t shrivel away in the blink of an eye.
The plus side, through all of this, was that he did back away from his advances towards Aphrodite. However, Hermes wondered how long that would’ve lasted.
Not long he had betted, but besides all of that, Hermes saw different. He didn’t see his brother’s actions as one’s selfishness or cruelty, but instead as cry for help. A cry of desperation, to be seen, to be heard while amongst the darkness. Seeking to find the light in a world that won’t allow him to be free.
That was the tragedy of Ares.
Which was why he wouldn’t just stand by and allow it to continue any further than it already has. Meaning he would have to find a way to remove, the deep clawing grip Hera had on Ares. He just needed to figure out how.
“I do not understand, brother,” Artemis replied to her young brother gently. “Ares does have someone and that is his graceless mother. The one who wronged almost all of us here, mainly myself and my twin. A deity who decided to send a giant serpent to pursue our mother, solely because she inadvertently engaged in a relationship with Zeus. It is unjust.”
“But is it though?” Hermes said quietly, causing the huntress to stand up to her full height. Artemis eyed her brother with a piercing glare, that was slowly showing signs of burning fury.
“Don’t take it the wrong way sister,” Hermes stood up as well, swiftly trying to defend himself. “What I mean is, that it is justified that Hera was angry at your mother for having slept with father. However, that doesn’t make it right what she did poor Leto, or you and Apollo.” The messenger turned back around placing his hands on the marble railing and tightening his grip around it. The anger in Artemis’s midnight eyes dimmed, only to be replaced with a need for understanding where her brother was going with this.
“Hera may be the queen of the divine realm, but she is also father’s wife. Meaning that every time Zeus goes on one of his escapades, it cuts a wound in her soul. Leaving scars that will never truly heal and since, no one has experienced the same or a similar pain left by father. In this fight, her fight, it feels as if she is fighting alone in on a battlefield, she no doubt couldn’t win even if she tried.” Hermes took a breath before continuing onward. He realized that he would have to form his next words carefully, since he knew that his brother wouldn’t have liked for his brother to reveal his secrets.
Even if those secrets involved were centered around his brother’s hidden abuse.
“Unfoundedly, that means that means Hera needs a trusted soldier one that she could control and join her side in all things. If it came to a civil war on Olympus, this soldier would be her ultimate supporter. Someone that couldn’t refuse her in anything. Which is why she needs Ares, her eldest son who has felt the similar feeling of being spurned by Zeus. Her most favored son.”
Artemis crossed her arms and turned her face back to the horizon. Pondering Hermes’s words about Hera and Ares.
In a way Hermes was right, the queen of Olympus was fighting a battle with her husband. However, it was more like a cold war instead of physical fighting. Hera moving her pieces along the game board, destroying certain pieces, while collecting them at the same time. Doing everything in her power to crush their father and make him feel the same pain he always made her feel.
However, Hera barely had any allies against Zeus and that meant she was at a slight disadvantage. Until, her thug of a son, Ares, joined her ranks as her most loyal follower. Taking his mother’s side and carrying out her malice along with his own.
It made Artemis angry to her core, especially since there was a time when Ares wasn’t always like that. She briefly remembered a time when she was younger, and Ares would come and would practice with her in archery. There wasn’t really a lot of talking between them at first, but more like him and her instructing the other on their range and what worked and what didn’t. Then soon, after a while they had gotten comfortable with another to make challenges amongst themselves.
It was enjoyable and liberating.
But that all changed when he turned his back on her, on all of them. In favor of taking his mother’s side and becoming a more masculine version of that witch.
From that moment on, Artemis was the first person to disown Ares. He may be her brother through blood, but that meant nothing to her. Relationships matter, not blood and most certainly not entitled bastard such as him.
“While you are right in your own way. That doesn’t mean she needs to turn her righteous fury on us. Or for her to send her loyal dog after us as well. We may be bastards, but that doesn’t mean they are better than us.” The wind blew through Artemis’s long silver hair, tossing it gently in the air. Her gaze holding a firmness and finality in her words. “We are all effected, in one way or another, the only one spared is that brute.”
“You might believe that sister, but that is far from the truth. Much remains beneath the surface of our understanding, existing inconspicuously in the ever-changing shadows.”
Now that captured her attention, what did Hermes mean by that? Was there something he knew that she didn’t? Something that he uncovered while sneaking around like he always did?
Or was it another situation entirely?
Before she could voice her questions, Hermes put up a hand to gently silence her.
“I can see the questions in your eyes sister and believe me, I wish I could tell you everything. Except, this is not my story to tell nor is it my place.” He had said, voice became increasingly serious the more he spoke. “I can say, that despite everything, Hera’s wrath extends to all. No one is safe from her, not even her own sons.”
Sons, not son, Artemis noticed but didn’t say anything. She just continued to listen, but it was strange what Hermes said. It was obvious that Hermes was speaking of their brother Hephaestus, the blacksmith had received much scrutiny from everyone in the pantheon. Especially, from his cruel mother. Even so, it was interesting how Hermes also mentioned Ares.
What could Ares suffer from when it comes to his mother?
May be in time she will know, if at all. Alas, the only person who knew was her annoyingly secretive younger brother. Which, at times, was a good thing until situations like this.
“I am saying all of this to you sister is because I understand how Ares has treated all of us in the past. How could I forget, the many times he has shamed us and casting us aside as if we were nothing. Nevertheless, as the god of thieves and the trickster. I see things from the shadows, and those are times when I do ponder my choices. Wheater they be good or bad.” Hermes breathed out another sigh and turned to face the sun. Which has almost completely disappeared in the sky.
“We have each other’s backs; us bastards must stick together after all. Yet, while we have each other for support. Ares, our brother, has no one in his corner. He is holding himself up under the pressures of Olympus, his mother, and father. Furthermore, what happens to him once that weight finally decides to crush him? Will we just stand by and watch, or help him up? I don’t know where you stand in all of this, Artemis, but I for one am not going to let that happen.”
Hermes faced his sister once again, a look of joy and determination on his face. “I vow to help our brother in whatever he needs, even in this hunt for his goddess. It is possible, that through her she could change our brother for the better. I already saw it with my own eyes, and I have no do -”
“Wait a minute,” the huntress stopped him. “What do you mean you seen it. Are you speaking about the goddess, or something else?”
Hermes shook his head, “Regrettably, I wish I had seen her, alas I only saw how our brother acted when we were talking about her earlier. He said he felt at peace, something I never knew he could feel. Still, it is one of the many reasons why I want to help him. Even though he might
deny it, he needs us. Now more than ever, even if he doesn’t want it. He needs more supporters in his circle.”
‘Someone other than his mother. That’s for sure,’ he said mentally. “Don’t ask for much, sister, but will you please continue to help our brother in his current mission? To find this goddess of mystery and wonder?”
“And do you really believe that this goddess, is really that special to Ares and our cause?” She questioned eyebrow raised.
“As much as I believe the sun will come up tomorrow,” Hermes said smirking. Very sure of himself and his intuition.
Artemis looked over at her brother carefully. Currently, though she loved Hermes and wanted to also assist him. Her mind was screaming at her to refuse; the only reason was because she would have to work closely with Ares. That pompous pig didn’t need her help or her sympathy. He had done nothing to deserve either and even though it was Hermes that asked her to help. It was in fact Ares’s mission, not hers or Hermes.
Honestly, she was ready to reject the request and try to convince Hermes to turn his eagerness to help Ares away. Yet, something deep in her heart told her otherwise. To lend a hand to her enemy and put her bitter feelings aside.
She wanted to ignore.
She had wanted to turn away.
Though she couldn’t and she had a feeling that once she did help. Something miraculous would come from it. Plus, it was hard to deny Hermes’s overdramatic pouting face. It was as silly as it was infuriatingly adorable.
“Alright fine,” she muttered with a heavy sigh. “I will help you and our brother, in his goddess hunt.”
Hermes perked up his eyes alight, “Truly sister?”
“Yes.”
The messenger clapped his hands and beamed a delightful smile, “This is a great outcome sister! I am sure our brother will be able to express his gratitude.”
The goddess snorted, “Doubtful. All I will ask is that you keep him in check, because even if he mumbles something disrespectful towards me on this supposed hunt. Especially, the word ‘bastard,’ I swear on the Styx that I will load him with arrows.”
A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance causing Hermes to gulp and nod. “Dually noted,” he said chuckling nervously.
Artemis just smirked and walked past her brother, but not before giving him a pat on the back and bidding him a goodnight. However, before she left, she turned back to her brother another and final question forming upon her lips.
“Hermes… How exactly did you convince, Ares to let you help him?”
Hermes stood tall and proud as a familiar grin crossed his face. “All I just used my impeccable charm and wit, to win over our brother’s everlasting -”
“You threatened to tell father, didn’t you?”
“Absolutely! What did you think I was going to do beg?”
Artemis laughed a hearty laugh finding her brother’s answer way more amusing than it should be. “Amusing as ever brother, who knew you could be a major tattle tale.”
“Hey! This tattle tale has goals and ambitions, if you think that one stubborn bull-headed war god is going to stop me you darling, are mistaken.”
Artemis just shook her head, chuckling one last time before calling gently over her shoulder. “Goodnight, brother. Rest well.”
Hermes smiled again and giving a small wave to his sister, “Goodnight, sister, and you do the same.”
The huntress gave a small nod, then turned away walking into the nightly throws of Olympus. Leaving Hermes with joy in his soul and hope in his heart, a hope for change to occur within the realm of the gods.
A hope that maybe things will turn out for the better.
A hope that ridded on the goddess with the calm touch and beautiful air of the unknown. Whoever, she was he had hope that she was the solution to not only his problems, but his brother’s as well.
With that final thought on his mind, Hermes placed his helm on his head and sped off in the night.
A/N: Hey everybody, so Blind Love and Silent Hearts chapter 7 is OUT!!!! Yay! Now, thank you guys so much for reading this chapter and story in general, you guys are amazing. I do want to apologize if the chapter seemed rushed in some areas or not well said or put. I wanted to get this chapter done so we could move on to the more interesting chapters. Either way, keep all comments respectful not only towards me but to others and I will see you all next time.
PS. The Blood of Zeus fanfic, "Coming Back from Destruction," will get its newest chapter, hopefully soon." If you guys haven't read or know about this fic, here is the summary as well as a sneak peek.
Summary: This Blood of Zeus fanfic is a fix-it fanfiction for Blood of Zeus season 3. Since I was dissatisfied with majority of the deaths and what happened to some of the characters, I decided to make this fic as a way to cope.
~ * ~
Heron, the son of Queen Electra of Corinth and Zeus king of the Olympian gods, is now living in the Elysium Fields. Finally, the demigod hero is at peace having lived his life and getting the ending he deserved after he sacrificed himself to kill Typhon and help save the world. All was well.
Until Heron was taken to the abyss by a mysterious new deity, who just wants to give Heron the opportunity to give the lives that were lost a second chance.
Can Heron do what he does best and save another life or two? Or will they be lost to the endless darkness of the abyss?
Disclaimer: I do not own Blood of Zeus; they belong to Netflix. I only own the plot.
Preview: Heron had done it.
He had given the ultimate sacrifice to help the Olympians restore order and peace to the world. With the help of Seraphim, his brother, who was lost for the longest time in darkness and hatred. He battled and fought with him against Typhon and Chronos, finally putting their reign of terror to an end. Avenging their fallen friends and kin, and for Heron he rested peacefully. Reunited with his mother, Electra, and briefly his brother.
It was over.
The war.
The hatred.
Everything.
He was home.
.
.
.
.
Or so he thought.
Link 1: Coming Back from Destruction - Jamia Jackson - Wattpad
Link 2: Coming Back from Destruction - Chapter 1 - Starfire1657 - Blood of Zeus (Cartoon) [Archive of Our Own]
Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 3: Persephone's Death
Warning: Spoilers!
Alright, so as requested, Persephone won the poll. So, let's get started. These are my thoughts on Persephone's death and overall involvement in the narrative of Blood of Zeus.
Disclaimer: This is just my honest opinions, and I appreciate if you guys don't hound me for my opinions. Please and thank you.
Also, if you haven't checked them out. Here are all the parts of my Blood of Zeus thoughts miniseries. Enjoy!
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 1: Ares's Death - https://www.tumblr.com/starfire1657/783136352325795840/blood-of-zeus-season-3-thoughts-part-1-aress?source=share
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 4: Kofi's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 4: Kofi's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 5: Heron's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 5: Heron's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Before we start, thank you everyone who voted for me to do Persephone's death. I really wanted to acknowledge you all. Now I just wanted to clarify that Persephone's post is going to be a little different from the previous two, but also somewhat similar. Just to let y'all know. Now on with the post!
Netflix's Blood of Zeus gave us a lot of information, story, and also a whole cast of old and new characters to love and adore. Also, ones that we absolutely loathe with are entire being, (I am looking at you, CHRONOS)!
However, among this cast of characters, one of the characters that struck me the most was Persephone. Now here's the thing. I believe that the execution of Persephone's character in the show was done, so, well, and in all honesty, I loved her character design and personality in throughout show too. I especially, loved the adaptation of the Hades and Persephone story that Netflix routed with. Where instead of Persephone getting kidnapped by Hades, like it was in the original mythology. She not only got to know him in a healthy way, but she WILLINGLY left with him to the Underworld. It was HER choice. Which is one of the changes I did in fact adore about this show and its horrible take on the world of Greek Mythology.
Persephone ate every time she was on screen, and she devoured in seasons 2 and 3. (Just not as much as Hera though). Speaking of season 3, let's get into my thoughts and opinions about Persephone's involvement within the final season and show overall. First will be her death, then her sacrifice, her remembrance, if her character was wasted, and my thoughts on the ending. So, make way for the Queen of the Underworld cause here we go.
First off is Persephone's death. When I tell you I was devastated. I. WAS. DEVASTATED!!!! Seriously, I not okay after this season. After Ares and Hephaestus's deaths I had to WILL myself to watch the rest. In doing so, I had to watch my girl Persephone become one with the ground! Here is a quick recap, Persephone tried to go back to the Underworld with Hades to save her children from Typhon. Except, she couldn't enter due to the laws of the Underworld, not allowing her to enter during Spring and Summer. So, she stays behind to fight off Typhon to delay him and gets smashed into the dirt like a bug. I hated that, so much. Even though she died a noble death. IT WAS THE FACT THAT SHE DIED!!! Was what pissed me off. Like we don't even see more of her after what. EPISODE 3????!!!! Or four I don't even know for sure. (Y'all tell me was it episode 3 or 4 as last time we saw her?)
Next is her sacrifice, so picking up off of the previous thought. Persephone sacrificed herself by fighting Typhon to protect her family. Basically, after Gaia unleashed Typhon (The bitch), Persephone and Hades knew the monster was making his way to the Underworld not only to free Chronos, but to kill their children. As I said before Persephone had to stay and fight Typhon, to buy her husband time to find their children and get them to safety. As Demeter said, "A mother is never alone in her thoughts. She must always think twice. Once for herself and once for her child." Persephone was thinking like a mother, and she made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her children even though she probably knew she would never see them again. (And before you guys say that she did see them again or would've seen them again. Let me remind y'all that she almost got obliterated by the abyss, like two others we ALL know. Need I say more.) In conclusion, Persephone's sacrifice was perfectly done. Was it damaging to my heart yes. However, she was a hero.
Next is her remembrance, as I said about Hephaestus's remembrance. It was well deserved, and long overdue. Finally, Persephone gets more recognition in media and is not just seen as Hades's wife. I loved how in the end she was painted as a hero among the stars. Even though they didn't say that I saw it as such. Persephone, THE QUEEN YOU ARE!!!!
Second to last on this list. Was Persephone's character potential wasted? In my honest opinion, no. I feel like Persephone had really good potential already. Unlike Ares and Hephaestus, where I felt like their characters could've had more going on for them. Persephone's left me satisfied, to where I don't feel like she was robbed of potential like some. (*Side eyes* Ares and Hephaestus). I feel like her character was done really well and I wish we actually got to SEE her ending. But that is coming up next. Overall, Netflix you done good. For once.
Finally, from what I hear, Persephone reunited with her family after the conclusion of the show. Being dead, she was able to stay in the Underworld and be with her husband and children. However, how the ending of BoZ happened and how it left SO many unanswered questions. I really wanted to know what happened to Persephone and her family's fates. I am happy for her don't get me wrong, but I am pissed off we didn't get to see it. Either way, I am happy for my girl.
Okay, so this is the part where I mention what I would've done differently to Persephone's overall story within the narrative.
Just like in my Ares post, I would've gotten rid of the garden scene between Persephone and Ares from season 2, episode 3.
I would have included that deleted scene from season 2, where Demeter was gaslighting Persephone after she just came back to Olympus during episode 2. If no one knows what I am talking about here, you go. Clip: BLOOD OF ZEUS - Season 2 - Deleted Scene - Demeter & Persephone in Mt. Olympus
Next, I would've at least had some scene where Persephone meets Heron. Like Heron met ALL of his half-siblings (Save Dionysus), he couldn't have meet Persephone at least once or twice?
If Persephone and Heron do meet and have a talk. Heron learns what his sister is going through and would have at least tried to help in some way.
Let Persephone have some more interactions with her half-siblings that WEREN'T out right hostile.
More moments with her children.
WE GOT TO SEE HER HAPPY ENDING!
Also, if the writers can revive Zeus's bitch ass. Then she can come back too.
I would've also, revived her and made her and her family not bound by the laws of the Underworld completely. Which I am already doing anyway.
In conclusion, Persephone's character was done really well, and I just wished we could have seen more from her. Anyway, thanks guys for reading and I am tuning out on this one, ta-ta for now.
Alright, three down and two more to go. Next poll is going to be you guys choose the next and final character and I will do the other one after. Part 4 is up to you guys. So would you like Kofi or Heron Poll is under the picture.
Blind Love and Silent Hearts - Chapter 6. The Warrior and the Messenger
Summary: Ares has a sit-down talk with his half-brother and another sibling of his joins them at the end.
When a hunter begins his hunt, he prepares in advance. He gathers his arrows and sharpens them to a point. Stringing his bow, he checks it properly, ensuring the string is strong.
He prepares himself before journeying into the unknown to hunt his game. He knows his prey and where to find them by tracking their every move.
Once he finds his prize, he waits in the shadows to strike, notches the arrow, and pulls back on the bowstring. His focus is unwavering, and his aim is true. When he is sure he has the shot, he releases.
The arrow flies in the air, whizzing past the flora and underbrush, hitting its target dead center. The hunter smiles in satisfaction at his prize, but his smile drops at what he sees.
Which was nothing.
He was a marvelous hunter; this was true, never once faltering in his mission. He doesn't understand what he did wrong, for he was sure in his task.
However, the hunter wasn't chasing an animal at all, but a ghost. So, the question now was, how can you catch something that doesn't even exist?
How can you know your prey when you've never gotten to know it?
How can you be sure of what you are looking for if you don't even know its name?
~ * ~
Ares didn't know how he had gotten into this situation. Scratch that he did know how, it was because he was a blundering idiot.
That's how.
He just had to over think about the goddess's message and mysterious air. Leaving his mind in a whirlwind of questions and confusion.
He just had to speak his mind aloud as if he were reading out the contents of a scroll. Giving room for anyone to overhear and listen.
Of course, someone listened.
They just had to listen, and out of all the gods on Olympus it just had to be the buffoon sitting across from him.
"Okay, so let me get this straight," Hermes said his voice carrying confusion and uncertainty. "You came back to Olympus in a rage, after your confrontation with our uncle and Persephone. Which in turn prompted your desolation of the gardens as an outlet for your anger."
"That was the case, yes."
"But then during your rage session, a goddess that you never seen before. Came to you and placed her hands on your face and calmed you down with a simple touch." The messenger god noted, face contorting to display disbelief and skepticism. "And immediately after she disappeared, no name. Nothing!"
Ares sighed yet again a headache coming on, "You're correct."
Hermes then brings his hand to his chin in thought as he processed the next set of information his brother had given him.
"Then, from what you have told me. That just after four days since your meeting with her in the gardens." He then pointed in Ares's direction, "You had a dream about yourself and her being lovers."
Ares glared.
"Sorry my bad, secret, lovers. But your time together was brief due to ginormous trees separating you both and your message from her was for you to find her." Hermes said, forming air quotes on the last leg of his sentence. "Which, then not too long ago, the real version of her sent you a message on the wind telling you that she will see you soon. Or rather she hopes to see you soon."
Ares sighed again once more; he really hated this conversation the moment it started.
From the moment Ares had his slip up, Hermes appeared directly from behind him. As a seasoned warrior and the literal god of war, he should have already sensed Hermes's approach. But for the first time in a long time, he didn't, and he it cost him. Which was why now he was sitting at a small table in his palace's courtyard. Having a forced luncheon with the bastard of messages, while he was relented into spilling his secret about the blind mystery goddess.
Something that he wasn't fond of doing.
"If you ask me -"
"I didn't."
"But I'm here."
"Because you barged in!"
Hermes gave his brother a dismissive wave of his hand, "It doesn't matter how we got into this situation. All that does matter is that we..."
"Whose 'we'?"
"... Are on the hunt to find a mystery goddess and because you don't know who she is or where she came from. Or our biggest question, which is how in Gaia's name did she get to Olympus if she had never been seen here before or probably never been before? Then as messenger of the gods I need to know. Especially, since it is in my jurisdiction to know all members of the pantheon." Hermes then picked up a grape from his plate, tossing the sweet fruit into his mouth.
"Besides you clearly need my help," Hermes plucked three more grapes off his plate, chewing disgustingly on his food.
Ares stared blankly at his brother, eye twitching at the sight before him.
"First of all, stop talking with your mouth full. You're a god, not a heathen." He lectured, "Have at least some decorum, seriously were you raised in a barn?"
"A cave, actually."
Ares deadpanned.
"Rhetorical, got it."
Ares rolled his ruby red eyes, "And secondly, last time I checked. I never once asked for your help, Bastard."
Hermes's eyes widened a fraction at the slur Ares spouted his way. It was no secret that out of everyone on Olympus, Hera despised every single bastard of her philandering husband's. Whether they be mortal, immortal, or half-blood. The bitterness the woman carried towards her husband's offspring was so deep that Tartarus had competition.
She hated them all.
So, it made sense that her son, the infamous Ares, be the one to adopt her very same ideology. Shunning and shaming his half siblings at any and every turn. The only one to escape the abuse was Persephone, because even though she was their sister. She was more Demeter's daughter than Zeus's. Not only that, but not too long-ago Ares tried everything to win the goddess's hand as her potential suitor. Unfortunately, after the information Hermes learned from Ares about his tussle with their sister and the lord of the underworld. He doubts their sister wouldn't face Ares's bitterness and harsh scrutiny.
Athena was also spared, somewhat.
Athena being Ares's equal in war and skill prompts him to not only clash heads with her but confide in her as well. On more than one occasion, both siblings would be seen conversing with one another and sparing together in the arena. They were close, not just as gods of war but as rivals along with equals. Out of all his siblings, Hermes knew that Athena was more than likely to hold Ares's favor more than the rest of them ever could. Plus, there was the account of Athena not being a bastard. Which saved her from both Hera, Ares and the rest of the Patheon's scrutiny.
However, the rest of them were not so lucky.
The others would've had different reactions to Ares's biting insult.
Apollo would have tried to incinerate their brother with his flames. Leaving the god of war, to be nothing but ash and cinder. Flipping his sun blond hair without a care in the world, while delighting in Ares's suffering.
Artemis, their virtuous sister, would have tried to use Ares as target practice. No doubt firing hoards of arrows at him until he, hopefully, dropped dead. He had no doubt that she would've castrated him too if she had the chance.
Next was Dionysus, who would no doubt have drunk away the insult with his wine. Drowning himself in a sea of red bliss, forgetting the world on and off Olympus. Or maybe he would've let himself succumb to madness, because that was better than facing the cold harshness of reality.
Hephaestus would just ignore the term and continue to constantly hammer away in his forge. The hot molten smell and feel of the steal would help drown out the verbal abuse and he would pretend like the comments didn't get to him. Alas though, they still do, and Hermes knew Hephaestus well enough to know that the god of the forge felt the sting of rejection and judgement every waking day. But instead of drowning in that pain, through that hurt the blacksmith would craft an endless sea of beautiful trinkets, weapons, and jewelry. That made up for the beauty he himself lacked.
He, however, easily did one or two things: run away or laugh it off like it didn't affect him. Mainly though he would just ignore it, considering that this passed down hatred was blasphemous. It felt silly and useless, since Hermes hasn't done anything to either Hera or Ares to cause such hate.
Yet, at the end of the day he did.
His existence was enough to cause such hate. Walking around Olympus everyday and having to face your father's wife and trueborn son. In your eyes, they seem like the enemy, someone to stay far away from during majority of your life. Until, of course, interactions with them were needed.
Meanwhile, in their eyes they saw you as something different, something more than just an enemy.
They saw betrayal.
They saw pain.
They saw heartache.
Hermes didn't want to make an enemy out of his brother. He secretly longed to connect with Ares on more than one occasion. From the moment the gods were at peace after the war with the titans and the giants. Hermes wanted nothing more than to bond with the brother that impressed him the most on the battlefield. He admired Ares's strength and courage, his unbreakable will and fiery temper. He wanted to get to know his eldest brother and know the real him, not his secondary tormentor.
Not the son of the bitter queen.
Not the warrior, but his big brother.
He just never got the chance to get close to him, but maybe it was the work of the fates that he overheard his brother's inner struggle. Perhaps this was Hermes's chance to finally get into his brother's good graces and not be seen as one of the bastards.
But just his brother.
Hopefully, things can work out that way, and maybe this mystery goddess is the key to that.
"I understand, your weariness for my help, brother," Hermes expressed to the war god. "I mean we are very different beings you and me. Your war and rage, while I am whit and speed. Plus, I am very attractive."
"Hermes I am about two moments away from punching you in the teeth if you don't get to the point," Ares threatened.
Ares's fist clenched around his goblet of nectar. The liquid shining pure gold. Even though Ares loved sweet, honeyed nectar, he should've gotten wine. At least then he might have tolerated this conversation. That was until he thought about what would happen if he did have the red elixir of consequences and thought better of it.
'The nectar was fine,' he had mused to himself before he took a sip of the sweet elixir of the gods.
"The point I am trying to make Ares," Hermes said gently voice filled with patience. "Is that you need help, it is clear you do not even know who this goddess is. You only have seen her once in the gardens and a second time in your dreams. You don't even know her name, the only thing you have about her is her appearance and her message. Which to me and anyone else, that is not enough to go on."
Ares stiffened but took a swig of his drink as Hermes proceeded.
"For all we know, we or rather you, could be chasing after a ghost." Silence was what filled the courtyard next. The weight of Hermes's words pressed heavy on Ares. Causing him to question the reality of the situation even more.
What if the goddess he was looking for wasn't real?
What if during his rage he somehow conjured her?
What if this was all his mind playing some horrible trick and it was all for not?
But then out of the blue, he felt that warm sensation again. That very same feeling that made his heart race and the grip he had on his goblet loosened. The breeze picked up and it was once again accompanied by the scent of lavender.
Hermes watched in awe and surprise at the way his brother's posture shifted and changed. Where his brother was on guard and stiff. He seemed relaxed now, as if he didn't have a care in the world. As if he wasn't ready to hop into action and fight off any opposition that headed his way. Instead, he looked like he was ready to bask in the sun and skip through a field of flowers.
'This is new,' the messenger voiced mentally. Hermes just stared at his brother, not sure what to say. Whatever was going on, he doubted Ares would tell him willingly.
"Ares, brother? Are you well?"
"I am... Alright Hermes," Ares said to his brother not once showing a hint of malice. Which threw Hermes off entirely. For once his brother was content and not a giant ball of rage and pride. He needs to mark this day as a momentous occasion, and call Olympus to celebrate. For once Ares seemed docile.
"Are you sure, because it's just you don't seem like yourself. It looked as though you've been put under a spell," Hermes commented concernedly.
'A spell,' Ares repeated in his mind. Indeed, it was a spell, it was her spell. A spell that weaved calm into the mind, like the three fates weave a tapestry. This feeling, he had been experiencing it recently and he didn't want to stop. It was almost like a drug intoxicating and addicting, once you've gotten a taste you refuse to stop indulging, and that is what he had wanted.
He wanted to indulge.
"To be honest, I don't even know what to think anymore," Ares admitted. "As a god of Olympus, I never had to question anything or feel anything outside of what or who I am. Nevertheless, ever since that day in the gardens, I have never felt the sensations I have felt in my life -"
"What kind of sensations?" Hermes interrupted.
Ares flicked his eyes towards his brother, annoyance easily creeping in. "A warm sensation, brother. The kind that makes one feel weightless and..." He recalled the dream he had about her and how it affected him. It made him feel warm and whole, like he had just found the missing piece in the complicated puzzle that was his life. Ares felt relaxed as all the weight of him being the god of war and the prince of Olympus lifted from his shoulders.
All because of a simple touch.
A simple meeting of the eyes.
Her presence, that was so close to him that he couldn't help but try and reach her.
He had felt.
He felt...
"... Peace," he had said finally, his eyes softening. "I had for once felt peace. My soul satisfied and fulfilled. As if I was standing in Elysium itself, I felt like I was truly living, and I didn't know why. Even now I feel it, I feel her. Whoever she is, I feel her presence and her touch caressing my mind. I had never felt this way before, about anything much less anyone. Yet, I want it, I want... Her."
Hermes was astonished at what his brother just admitted. While Ares stiffened at what he had just said, before he coughed and corrected himself.
"To find her that is. I want to find her to learn more about... Whatever this is, that I am feeling." Ares explained, trying effortlessly to cover up his mistake in speech.
Hermes just smirked, much to the war god's irritation, and leaned back in his chair. The messenger god's arms were crossed and air of his usual mischief swirled through the open area.
"Are you sure, THAT'S the real reason why you want to find this mystery goddess. Dearest brother of mine?"
"Of course, that's the real reason! What else could there be?" Ares said, agitation lacing his tone. His eyes burning with red hot fury and annoyance. Just what was this bastard trying to imply?
"I mean it sounds like to me, that you are rather infatuated with her, this goddess of yours," Hermes replied.
"I am NOT infatuated with her!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes really!"
"I find that very hard to believe," Hermes frowned, his light brown eyebrow raised, a look of doubt gracing his features.
Ares started to get defensive. There was no way in all the cosmos that he was infatuated with this goddess. He was just curious about her, especially when it came to the power, she had over him. That was all.
Right?
"What do you know," Ares growled out towards his brother. "You're just a bastard -"
"A bastard that knows much more than you apparently," Hermes reiterated. Taking another sip of his goblet, while infuriating his brother at the same time with his unbothered expression. "Listen Ares, I may not know what your relationship with this goddess is, but I do know one thing." The messenger responded back after he finished taking his drink. Hermes eyed Ares, his sky-blue orbs meeting his brother's crimson.
"And what is it that you know?" The war god had challenged him.
"I know that you brother," Hermes said while pointing at Ares. "In some way have a strong connection to this goddess. Weather it is good or bad, that has yet to be seen, but it is clear to me that whatever this is. It has caused you to go about almost turning Olympus upside down just to find her."
"I wouldn't have turned Olympus upside down."
"You sure about that?" Hermes had countered with another questioning eyebrow. "Nevertheless, I wouldn't have doubted that if I didn't overhear your conversation with... Yourself," that earned him another glare from his brother. "You definitely would have gone to search for her yourself brother and considering your people skills brother it wouldn't have been a successful search mind you."
Ares's eyes studied his brother before he answered, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity and slight offense.
"What do you mean? I have good people skills," he defended himself. "Besides my search for her wouldn't have been in vain. For at least someone on this accursed mountain must have seen her. So, there will be someone around here that would tell me something, I have zero doubts about that."
Hermes frowned as he placed his elbows on the table, eyes meeting his brother's. "While I can see your point brother there is one problem. You are the only person on Olympus that has seen her as far as we know. Considering this there is a high possibly that no one else knows who she is. Prompting you. . ." He pointed at his brother again.
"To end up going on a crazy crusade trying to find her, and with your definite leads going nowhere. You, brother, will do what you always do best and resort to violence, getting you even further away from the truth and leaving your questions unanswered. Hence your definite lack in people skills."
Ares bristled and went to deny it, to say that it couldn't be true and that this goddess was at least seen by someone. However, the more his brother spoke, the more he felt that the messenger was becoming more right.
"Then of course, there is also the extra punishment you will receive when father finds out," the winged messenger concluded.
Ares sighed and rubbed his temples, he hated to admit it, but Hermes was right. Alas, instead of voicing his opinions Ares just continued to listen to his brother, knowing that Hermes wasn't quite done.
"Let's look at the facts here," Hermes then started to tick off the various points on his fingers. Relaying back the tid bits of the Ares's goddess dilemma back to him.
"First point is that this goddess has never been seen on Olympus, until now. Which to me doesn't make sense since, because if she has been around for quite some time. Surely, we would've already known about her from the beginning."
Ares rested his elbows on the table now, his fingers intertwining together and resting them against his upper lip. His mind processing his brother's words, the more and more he kept explaining his points.
"Second point, her appearance is something I have never come across. I mean yes there are some gods in the pantheon that are blind, but not in the description of your goddess. Plus, a goddess such as her would've been noticed, right?"
Ares shrugged, "I believe so, since her appearance is so striking that she wouldn't have been missed. Then there is her presence, which was something else entirely. A serenity that even I cannot describe, but it is powerful I know that for sure."
"Can her presence truly be that powerful?" Hermes asked.
Ares just gave a single head nod in confirmation, before answering his brother, "Powerful enough to calm the rage in my heart. Something that has never been done before in all my immortal life."
Hermes was surprised, but he rubbed his chin in thought, considering Ares's words. His brother was in fact right, a goddess such as the one he was searching for would have stood out in the pantheon the moment she stepped foot in the realm of the gods. Not only that, but if her presence was as strong as Ares said, then why hadn't they felt it before? Even their father Zeus had an overwhelming presence when he entered a room. The reason why they weren't as effected as much, was because majority of the pantheon had gotten used to the mighty aura of the king of the gods. However, there were times when the god king would increase his aura, but mainly that was when their father displayed his infamous anger towards the world. Either way, whenever, Zeus or the others entered a room they were easily recognizable.
So, if what Ares said about the goddess was true then they could easily recognize her aura, but a general description wouldn't hurt either.
"Brother, I had forgotten to ask you, but what was your goddess's appearance again. I don't believe you told me what she looked like." Hermes asked his elder brother, head tilting just slightly.
"She is not my goddess," Ares stated firmly eyes as cold as the steel of war hammer.
Yet his heart twisted at his words, the way he inadvertently denounced the goddess made an unexpected and bitter feeling rise within him. Even still, that feeling was replaced quickly with something else although it did still linger in the shadow of his emotions. Nevertheless, that feeling and emotion was swiftly replaced with a strange protectiveness for the mystery goddess as well as the dark curling grip of possessiveness.
"Also, why do you want to know what she looks like? Does she interest you too brother?" Ares spat the word 'brother' like venom.
Hermes leaned back quickly putting his hands up in surrender, "Calm down, brother you have the wrong idea. While the goddess does interest me. It isn't in the way that you believe. I promise you brother, I..." He paused.
"I only want to help."
When Hermes finished, Ares had no doubt that his brother was telling the truth. Yet, a lingering darkness creeped into his mind. He didn't know why, but the idea of another god much less Hermes finding interest in this goddess stirred something in his heart. A darkness he couldn't describe.
Was it jealousy?
Or was it something more sinister?
Deep down did Ares want to claim this goddess, for himself. To her locked away from all who dared to know more about her. The moment these dark thoughts entered his mind; Ares was taken back to his dream. The dream where the goddess was already trapped and he couldn't even reach her. That same dream where the trees became not only a barrier, but a cage and the thought of that moment. Those trees began to leave Ares even more irritable than he was before, but then he realized that the way he had been thinking was far worse than what he had seen.
What if this unknown force had the same mindset as he did just now. That the goddess needed to be kept in an unrelenting and unyielding cage, because they didn't want her to even seek the idea of the outside. Of freedom. To seek him.
What if he turned out to be her prison instead? Keeping her from others and caging her to himself without any remorse or shame.
If he did that then the warmth that he had felt from her in the dream. Would be replaced with something else, something much more biting and broken. He saw her smiling at him, and Ares couldn't help but think of her smile turning into a look of fear and sorrow whenever he neared.
He couldn't even imagine that he couldn't imagine trapping her.
He couldn't imagine possessing her as if she were an object.
He couldn't even imagine the very idea of hurting her.
Then just like that the darkness that was once there vanished entirely and Ares for once in his life began to reflect. Hermes was right, it did feel like he was chasing a ghost, and the more he chased the more obsessed he became. Then the moment he went out to search for answers, it would no doubt end disastrous.
Ares's slumped his shoulders and instantly hated what he was about to do, but what other choice did he have? If he didn't do this right, it could cost him.
It could even affect her.
The clouded eyed goddess.
He needed to be smart about this and despite him hating to say it, the bastard was right. A single warrior did not win wars on his own. That's why in war there were armies.
There were allies.
And that was what Ares needed the most right now.
An ally.
"Alright," he had huffed out begrudgingly.
Hermes's eyes narrowed in confusion, "I am sorry?"
Ares let out a breath and leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest, "what I am trying to say that I graciously would like your... Help. In finding this goddess."
Hermes's eyes were wide now with barely contained shock, had he just heard correctly. Ares, his brother, wanted his help. After this whole conversation, Ares kept avoiding his offers of aid, he now wants his assistance. He just couldn't believe it, he has to be dreaming.
"You... Want my help?"
"Yes."
"Truly?"
"Indefinitely."
The reaction was immediate, Hermes shot out of his seat and looked like he was ready to run laps around Olympus. Ares looked on at his brother as he paced back and forth, rambling in his excitement towards the idea of helping him.
"This is perfect brother, just you wait I will help you find this goddess. Even if it leads me to the ends of the earth. I promise to not let you down." Hermes babbled onwards his excitement, overflowing to new heights.
As Ares stared blankly at his brother, usually just seeing his brother like this would have caused him to scoff and sneer at the god's behavior. However, he didn't, instead he was reminded of a time long ago when they were young. When Ares was at his peak in godhood and his stature as the god of war.
He remembered distinctly a child no older then the mortal age of seven. Following him ever closely from a distance, a child with stars shining in his eyes when he saw him training or when he walked through the halls. A child, that after a while Ares found himself secretly being attached to the more, he continued to entertain the boy. That very same child, who he had abandoned due to the sins of their father, and the lasting bitterness of his mother.
That child stood before him once again, but Ares hadn't the heart to reach out and apologize. Instead, he remained impassive and distant since that was better than facing his regrets.
"If you are done celebrating," he had said sternly, steeling his resolve and burying the emotions and the past into the depths of his heart. "We have a goddess to find, and I don't want to sit here and lose even more of our brother's infernal sun." He finished standing up from his seat, striding past his still hyperactive brother. Not trying to pay him any mind whatsoever and preceding to enact a cold persona.
Hermes paid it no mind and instead just smiled at the back of his brother, glad that maybe things could go back to how they were all those years ago.
A time when they weren't enemies, but brothers. True brothers, where bastardy didn't matter or hang over their heads like a damn title or permeant mark.
They were just Ares and Hermes.
Sons of Zeus.
Brothers.
Hermes defiantly hoped it would go back to being that way.
As swift as he could he joined Ares at his pace as they walked down the halls of his palace to his private study. Hermes asking numerous questions about their mission and Ares answering him in short responses. During the walk, the messenger god felt his heart warm even more and hoped that better times were ahead of them.
All too quickly the brothers stood in front of Ares's study, and Hermes was all too excited for their hunt to begin.
Hunt.
Hermes stilled as a thought came to his mind and Ares, who was about to push open the doors to the room noticed.
"What is it?"
"We are trying to track and find this goddess, yes?"
Ares turned to his brother, eyebrows furrowing as he tried to understand what idiotic point his brother was trying to get to. "That is what we are doing, yes. Why?"
"Then seem we are on the hunt for a goddess."
The deadpan look that Hermes received from his eldest brother was borderline comical. Hermes had to keep himself from laughing in Ares's face.
"Hermes, what are you trying to imply?"
"Well, if we are going to go on a hunt," he had said while trying to put his thoughts out there gently. "We are going to need a good hunter."
Ares just stared at his brother the war god's crimson eyes shining with irritation, "Just get to the point."
Hermes jumped at the commanding tone of his brother's voice, but soon he relaxed and sighed better to get it all out in and on the table.
"All I am saying is that maybe we will need a professional in this area and when I mean hunter..." He paused again, before he said the thing that he knew his brother didn't want to hear.
"... I meant huntress."
Ares's eyes narrowed in confusion and suspicion, before they widened in realization at what or exactly who Hermes was talking about.
"Out of the question."
"Brother -"
"No!"
"But she can help."
"No!"
"How about a hug?"
"Over my dead body."
"Come on, if anyone can help it's her," Hermes begged his brother.
Ares sneered his mind unchanged and temper flaring, "I said no, it's already enough having you in on this, but her too. I don't think so, I would rather die by being tossed in a pit than asking the goddess of misandry and deer piss for help. Out. Of. The. Question."
"At least I have a reason for what I do," a familiar female voice broke into their conversation. Which in turn cause both gods to freeze. Turning to the voice Hermes shyly waved, while Ares groaned in frustration.
"However, unlike you Ares, I don't solve my problems by punching everything I come across." The voice said.
"No, you load them with arrows," Ares grumbled. "How did you get in here anyway?"
"The front door," the voice said tone obvious.
"Not what I meant."
"But it's what I implied."
Before Ares could retaliate. Hermes, as swift as ever, quickly intercepted his brother before Ares did something or rather said something he would've regretted.
"Artemis, our dear beloved sister. We were just talking about you."
The huntress just deadpanned, eyes as cold and blue as the night itself, "I can see that, but why are you two together?"
"Why does it matter? Also, why are you in my palace? Last I checked I didn't send you an invite." Came the reply from Ares.
The goddess of the moon and hunt narrowed her eyes as she focused on her war mongering half-brother. "I came by because I heard he was here," she then pointed to Hermes. "Had to make sure he didn't end up dead. We cannot have kin slayers around now can we."
"What did you just say to me?" Ares asked voice dropping into a low and threatening tone, daring his male hating sister to say more.
"You had heard what I said, war boy. Or has the battlefield rendered your hearing, dear brother?"
Ares growled, "I swear if you don't take that comment back -"
"Or what? You'll run to your mother?"
"I will end your existence!"
"I would like to see you try."
"Hey guys," Hermes said loudly drawing both of his sibling's attention. "You know Arty -"
"Don't call me that."
"- Ares and I were just talking about you, and we realized we needed your help." Hermes cheerfully addressed the goddess.
"We don't need her help!"
"Ignore him, sister, but all jokes aside it be beneficial to us if we had your expertise on the matter. So, please." Hermes slightly begged his elder sister, hoping that she would agree to help them.
Artemis's gaze flickered to Hermes then Ares and back again. Something was afoot here, and she didn't know what, but maybe this 'favor' will bring some insight to the situation. However, her downside she had to work alongside Ares. At least if she was on a battlefield she was spread out and away from him, but soon she would have to work in close quarters with the god.
She hated it but it she wanted answers she had to comply.
With a heavy sigh, Artemis rubbed her temples and nodded her head begrudgingly, "Fine I will help you two idiots."
Ares's jaw tightened, but Hermes just smiled holding Ares back slightly.
"Thank you, sister. This means a great deal to us, especially to Ares."
Ares grumbled again and Artemis raised a silver brow, "What do you mean Hermes?"
"All will be explained, shortly but let's discuss this in private, sister." Hermes finished before turning towards Ares, with an annoyingly sweet smile adorning his features. "Brother, if you don't mind."
Ares just grunted and turned to push the doors to his study open and walked inside without a word to his half-siblings. Artemis glared at his back but walked in right after with Hermes walking in as well. The heavy oak doors closed with a resounding thud, sealing them all inside.
The hunt was at hand, and a goddess was soon to be found.
Hey everyone, I hoped you all liked this chapter, and I am sorry it might have felt rushed in some areas. Either way, I wanted to say that now Ares has help in finding the mystery goddess. If they succeed in finding her remains to be seen. Anyway, glad you guys enjoyed the chapter, hopefully, I will see you guys' next time. ;)
Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death
Warning: Spoilers!
Alright, so as requested Hephaestus won the poll. So, let's get started. These are my thoughts on Hephaestus's death and overall involvement in the narrative of Blood of Zeus.
Disclaimer: This is just my honest opinions, and I appreciate if you guys don't hound me for my opinions. Please and thank you.
Also, if you haven't checked it out. Here are the other parts of my Blood of Zeus thoughts mini-series. Enjoy!
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 1: Ares's Death - https://www.tumblr.com/starfire1657/783136352325795840/blood-of-zeus-season-3-thoughts-part-1-aress?source=share
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 3: Persephone's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 3: Persephone's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 4: Kofi's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 4: Kofi's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 5: Heron's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 5: Heron's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
First off, here is the thing Hephaestus is one of the most UNDERRATED CHARACTERS IN THIS DARN SHOW! He was barely shown and when he was, he had such little screen time. However, he still ate up every moment when he was on screen. Hephaestus steadily became one of my favorite characters in this show. Making his death affect me like it did with Ares. It was unfair and completely unnecessary. Let's get into it.
First up is Hephaestus's death, well his FIRST death. Just like Ares, Hephaestus died in Blood of Zeus: Season 3, Episode 1. The reason was because he saved Aphrodite, from being crushed by Typhon's gigantic foot. LIKE BITCH YOU COULDN'T MOVE! (Sorry Aphrodite lovers, I like her too but seriously?!). His first death was bittersweet, due to the fact that he DIED, but he sacrificed himself for his EX-WIFE. That is a man right there, y'all I have a sixth Blood of Zeus husband. Man is a big green flag in this series.
Next up is his second death, just like in my Ares thoughts I will say it again. THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY! Just a recap after their deaths, Ares and Hephaestus are taken to the Underworld by the furies. Then they are TOSSED into the abyss by Chronos's bitch ass. (Sorry for my language, I don't usually cuss in my posts like this, forgive me). Then they were ERASED FROM EXISTENCE!!! Like WHAT?! As I said before this death was undeserved and a total overkill, literally.
The next thing I want to address is Hephaestus's remembrance. At the end of the show, to honor the lives that have fallen during this emotional wreck of a season. Zeus has constellations of Hephaestus, Ares, Persephone, and Heron edged in the stars. This honor that was given to Hephaestus was well deserved and LONG overdue. Especially, since this man has done so much behind the scenes in the show. Which makes his loss so much harder since when they really needed him. Hephaestus was already gone from the world. Plus, may I say it again. HE. GAVE. UP. HIS. OWN. LIFE. TO. SAVE. HIS. EX-WIFE'S!!! Even though it was tragic, his sacrifice was worth this great honor. Still would've liked him alive though.
Finally, I wished we had more of Hephaestus in this show. He was the blacksmith of the gods, and I wish that he was featured more. He was one of those characters that was pushed out of the way and placed in the background until the plot wanted him. AND EVEN THEN, THE PLOT SCREWED HIM OVER! Just like it did with Ares. The moment the man came in with a clutch, the showrunners/Netflix killed the man off, just to kill him off. Hephaestus just like Ares, to me, was another character that suffered from WASTED character potential. If only we had gotten, the five seasons of Blood of Zeus that was promised to us as the viewers. We would've seen more of this great, underrated, character.
If you read my Ares thoughts, this is the part where I will list off what I would've done differently with Hephaestus's character/story involvement. So, let's go:
When it comes to Hephaestus, I would've gotten him more involved in the story. Instead of having him just. . . There. You know?
I would've liked to see him interact more with his half siblings and his mother Hera to see their dynamic on screen. Let me see, the toxic relationship between Hera and him on screen. So, his death can be even worse towards Hera, and her guilt. Because one of my favorite parts in the season was when that cyclops clocked Hera's tea about her mistreatment towards Hephaestus in episode 6.
The only thing about Hephaestus's death I would've changed is. . . HE WOULDN'T HAVE DIED! Along with that, if he had to die and just HAD to be thrown into the abyss. I. WOULD. HAVE. MADE. A. WAY. FOR. HIM. TO. COME. BACK. As I said in my Ares rant, screw the writing and the rules.
I would've focused more on Aphrodite's thoughts towards Hephaestus sacrificing himself to save her sorry ass. Like I am sorry, but she (lore wise), treated Hephaestus bad in my opinion. Kindly correct me if wrong. However, I wanted to see more regret from her. Please and thank you.
Finally, if I did make him come back, he would've been treated better by his mom and his ex. Thank you!
In conclusion, Hephaestus was an underrated king, and it was really sad how he was treated by Netflix. He, like my first husband Ares, deserved better than this bull crap that Netflix did to him.
Alright that is the end of Hephaestus's rant. The person I plan to do next is Persephone's thoughts and Opinions. Poll is at the end.
Do you guys want me to do Persephone's death or someone else?
Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 1: Ares's Death
Warning: Spoilers!
Disclaimer: This is just my honest opinions, and I appreciate if you guys don't hound me for my opinions. Please and thank you.
Here are the next parts to this series!
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 2: Hephaestus's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 3: Persephone's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 3: Persephone's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 4: Kofi's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 4: Kofi's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Blood Of Zeus Thoughts - Part 5: Heron's Death - Blood of Zeus Season 3 Thoughts and Opinions - Part 5: Heron's Death – @starfire1657 on Tumblr
Okay but am I the only one that didn't like Ares's death. I know he was a jerk during the entire show, but I still loved him he was one of my husbands in this show and his death just hurts. He should've had a better ending and if Netflix didn't cancel the show. We could have maybe had more of Ares and seen hopefully a redemption ark. I personally was hoping to see him and Heron finally getting along or at least respecting each other. However, the way they killed him off like that wasn't right.
First, is his first death in the 1st episode of season 3. The fact that he died and how isn't what upsets me. IT'S HOW THEY DECIDED TO EXECUTE IT!!! If Ares was supposed to die, it would make sense that he would die on the battlefield. However, it was how they made his mindset. If he wasn't so prideful in his last moments or if they gave a more in-depth reason for his death than just... "I ran from this beast once. I won't do it again." Then I would be satisfied. Unfortunately, his death wasn't impactful in the way that I felt like it should have been. Plus, the man got Rengokued, another donut to add to the freaking box.
Next up is his second and final death. Man WTF! Like why they make Ares try and fight Chronos while he was a ghost. I never have wanted to smack a character so much in my life. More less than one of my favorite characters. But like seriously, the way they had Ares die like that, was so overkill. The man was already DEAD, why kill him another time? He already went through everything. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE ERASED FROM EXISTANCE!!!!
Next is his remembrance. Even though I love the man, WHAT WAS THERE TO REMEMBER HIM FOR?! Like seriously, when they honored him in the stars. Which was really sweet and almost made me cry. His impact in the story left nothing for him to be remembered for and I mean POSITIVELY. Yes, he was a great warrior and the god of war but look at all the others that died. Hephaestus, Persephone, Kofi, and Heron. They had really great sacrifices that they deserved to be honored and remembered. What did Ares do to get remembered? Nothing! Other than run his mouth and be stupid, because he didn't want to run away.
Finally, the last thing I want to say is that this man is the definition of WASTED POTENTIAL! The showrunners could've done so much more with his character. I felt he could've easily had a redeemable ark or at least some form of redemption in the show. To where his death would have been at least more meaningful instead of the creators/Netflix needing to kill off characters. Sadly, we will never get to see that, because Netflix did what Netflix does best and canceled a show that had so much potential in its plot and its characters.
Now, before I finish, I wanted to say what I would've done better if I had to rewrite Ares's story.
I would've changed the entire scene with him and Persephone in the garden scene from Season 2, Episode 3, because what was that? Someone please tell me, what the heck was that?
I would still give Ares the personally that he had, but have more moments where Ares had the opportunity to learn how to be less prideful. Make him have more moments with Heron to where he does in fact think of his actions. To where he does end up changing his mindset bit by bit.
Ares's death if he had to die would've been more noble. Either that or better yet, the gods would've not died.
I would've made a way for Ares to come back from the abyss. Screw the writing and the rules.
Lastly, he would be remembered in a positive light. Not the way the writers did him.
In conclusion, Ares deserved better.
I plan on doing Hephaestus next, what do you guys think?
Should I do Hephaestus's death next or someone else?
Blind Love and Silent Hearts - Chapter 5. Waking Dreams
The dreams I have, I cannot see. The endless void of black never leaves me be.
I wish with all my heart that my dreams will come true, instead of them coming and going like the morning dew.
I may wish upon a star and its silver light. Upon this star so true, so bright.
For in these dreams, a wish that could have been.
The world will drive us apart, until we meet again.
~ * ~
The warm morning sun entered Ares’s bedchambers. Rays of gold filtered through the bed curtains and hit Ares’s face in a warm caress. The god of war’s expression shifted in his sleep, for it wasn’t the warm sun that was touching him so.
Instead, it was her.
The goddess's unexpected presence has plagued his mind for the past five days.
Along with his dreams.
Ares has never once had a pleasant dream. Mainly, his dreams consisted of war, his father’s approval, a life that he wished was a reality, or even nothing at all. But NONE were ever calm and peaceful like this one.
In this dream, he was standing in a meadow full of flowers, the sky a clear and lovely blue. The sun shone brightly, but it wasn’t unpleasant like countless times before. Instead, he had welcomed it. Embraced it. As if it were a long-lost friend. Soon, he would walk through the flowery meadow, heart content and strangely alight. He would walk and walk until he happened upon a beautiful giant willow tree. Its branches hanging low but its leaves a vibrant green and it swayed in the calm breeze. As he approached, Ares’s heart started to feel full and excited. He didn’t know why, but before he knew it a smile spread on his face.
Why was he acting this way?
He found his answer not a second later, because standing near the willow surrounded by lilacs was her.
The mystery goddess.
Ares’s breath hitched as he took her in, his eyes never left her form. They couldn’t leave her form.
The goddess whose hair shined like starlight and looked soft to the touch. Fluttered in the gentle breeze, waves of pure white falling over her shoulder and back. Her curves were accented and hidden by the long white chiton dress decorated with simple gold jewelry that made her look elegant, despite the simplicity of her attire. Just like her hair, it blew gently in the breeze making her appear even more divine.
But then she turned to him, and he felt his heart warm even more.
She was as stunning as before, but this time he felt like it had enhanced in the light of the sun.
In this dream.
Their eyes met, her clouded ones meeting his crimson. Time seemed to stand still, with only the breeze shifting between them. Until she smiled at him, truly smiled.
It wasn’t a fake smile.
It wasn’t a smile of pity.
It wasn’t even a smile that had hidden motives.
No, it was a true genuine smile. A smile that spoke a thousand words and expressed many emotions all at once. A smile that welcomed him, with care and joy.
A smile that said, ‘It is good to see you.’
She was glad to see him.
Without even thinking he started to move towards her, his feet having a mind of their own. He wanted to stop as he didn’t know what to do or what to say, but his heartbeat picked up even more as he strides towards her. The goddess before him was doing the same, walking to him with that charming smile. A smile that was taking down his defenses one by one and wasn’t even stopping one bit. Soon the breeze blew her hair again and Ares caught the delicious scent of lavender. Calming and sweet lavender, a scent that fit her perfectly.
Soon they met in the middle, just inches away from one another. They didn’t speak any words, but it didn’t matter, just being together was enough.
Man and Woman.
God and Goddess.
War and . . .
What was she the goddess of?
Ares knew, in this dream he knew. But at the same time, he didn’t.
In the dream it was her who made the first move. Reaching her hand out she caressed the right side of his face. Her touch gentle and warm, something that Ares didn’t realize he had wanted or needed.
He let himself relax in her touch, eyes sparkling with calmness as if he were a docile animal. She rubbed her thumb along his stubbled cheek and jaw, causing Ares to close his eyes and breathe a relaxed sigh. He didn’t want this moment to end.
‘Why was that?’ He had wondered to himself. He didn’t even know her, this goddess that gave him unbelievable warmth and safety with her presence. A safety to be himself and be. . . Vulnerable. Ares hasn’t been vulnerable since he was but a child. When the duties of him being the god of war was nonexistent at the time. A time when he was just a kid.
‘Where did that time go?’ He had thought.
“I missed you,” a familiar and beautiful voice spoke to him in his mind. His eyes slowly opened and locked with the goddess’s clouded ones.
“You missed me?” He asked tone disbelieving and curious. She just silently giggled and smiled once more at him.
“Of course, silly! Why else would I have come?” She tilted her head in mock confusion. Ares felt embarrassed. He paused, why was he embarrassed in front of her? What was happening to him?
“You seem tired and stressed. Care to tell me why?” She had asked him, hand moving away from his face, making him miss her touch. Ares just shook his head, a small smile on his lips.
“I do not want to burden you with my troubles. They are not your baggage to carry but mine.” He said sincerely brushing away a strand of her white hair. ‘It is soft,’ he said to himself mentally. Entranced by the beauty of the goddess before him, her presence captivating him every second she was here with him.
The goddess shook her head, “You always say that.” Her clouded eyes looked at Ares in sadness and concern causing Ares’s heart to twist. “You say that your burdens are not mine to carry, but that’s not true.” She then took his hand in hers and spoke to him with a tenderness he had never known and an affection he had never seen anyone give him before. “I am your equal as you have also made it clear. I am your partner. Your other half. Your balance. We venture through everything together. Not alone, never alone. You are mine and I am yours, everything we share. We will share together, and that includes our burdens.” She then paused and stepped closer towards him, their chests almost touching their breaths almost mingling together.
His heart fluttered and warmed at her words and her closeness, as if he was walking on air. As if the ground wasn’t even beneath his feet and he was floating.
“I am here for you. Now and forever, cherishing together in this span of time and unity that we see before ourselves.” she had said to him her sweet voice whispering to him in his mind like a siren’s song. “You and I, a tapestry woven by the fates themselves. Never to be untreaded by anything that comes our way. Strong and true, steadfast in everything.”
She released his hand and placed both hands on his armored chest. She gracefully stood on her toes and kissed his cheek, sending unexplained but welcomed feelings into his heart.
“Do not forget that my love. For doing so you will forget me as well.” When she finished, Ares didn’t know what to say yet again. His tongue was tied in what felt like several knots. While his mind replayed her words to him.
My love.
My love.
My love.
The words caused his heart to race and almost dance.
What is this feeling, something so sudden and new to where it made him the god of war crumble and submit to one such as her?
‘Why?’ He mentally questioned her. ‘Why must you make me feel this way? Who are you to make me question my feelings and sanity? Who are you?’
The goddess tilted her head, curious as to why he hadn’t said anything.
“Ares?” By the gods, he wasn’t expected to hear her say his name. Even though it wasn’t from her own lips it still left him utterly enthralled by her.
“Is something the matter?”
Ares swallowed.
What should he say?
What should he do?
Why was he panicking?
He was the god of war; he had faced countless battles and foes in his lifetime. So, why was he nervous and frantic around this goddess as if he were a young boy with a crush? This was completely unexpectable.
The war god quickly regained his composure and squared his shoulders. Back straight and an aura that radiated confidence and assurance he soon was ready to address the woman before him.
But before he could say anything, there was a rumbling in the distance causing both Ares and the mystery goddess to glance in the direction of the sound. Different expressions marring their faces, for Ares it was a look of curiosity along with irritation. Meanwhile, the mystery goddess held a look of dread and sorrow.
He didn’t know why that was until, the rumbling grew louder and louder. Then suddenly giant pine trees erupted from the ground as if they were blossoming flowers. The trees were coming fast without stopping and they started to close in on all sides. Ares saw this and his crimson gaze flicked to the mysterious goddess that was now wrapped in his arms in a protective embrace.
When had he wrapped his arms around her? And why did it feel so right?
No! That didn’t matter right now, he had to protect her, the goddess.
His goddess.
Ares didn’t know why he just referred to the unknown goddess as ‘his,’ but he couldn’t deny how fitting it sounded. Either way, he needed to protect her from whatever threat that was coming towards them.
But it was all for not.
For the moment he had released her from his embrace and stood in front of her like a protective shield. More trees had popped up but behind them and they were even faster than the first set. The ground shifted and before Ares knew it, the trees had separated them. Enraged at the sight of the goddess trapped, the war god summoned his war hammer and began pounding away at the trees trying to reach her. Shattering every tree and leaving no room for error, but the trees kept growing effortlessly back.
What was going on?
Why can’t he get to her?
But before he could raise his hammer to swing once more, a voice spoke out.
Her voice spoke out.
“It is no use, no matter how many trees you topple down. She will continue to produce more.” Ares paused at the goddess’s words.
She? She who?
Was someone keeping her prisoner?
Far from his reach, to where he couldn’t touch the goddess with his own hands. Embrace her as he did before, feeling her warmth upon his skin and in his heart.
“Do not waste your strength on the impossible. It is needed elsewhere. Please stop for my sake,” She pleaded to him desperately.
With the goddess pleading towards him and her unexpected imprisonment, Ares was fueled with so much rage that the ground started to scorch. The vibrant green grass is now turning deep brown and going black. His anger continues to surge and spike that the whole area seemed to tremble. All except the trees, those majestic pines that didn’t seem to bow to him remained strong and steadfast, barring his entry and keeping him away.
Keeping him from her.
“I do not care in the slightest for this,” he raged, his eyes glowing scarlet. “Whatever force that is trying to keep me from you. I will not let it sway me into yielding.” Ares glared at the pines in utter detestation. The trees seemed to mock him with each passing second.
“I refuse to lose you. Especially, to some insufferable trees!” His voice echoed around the space like thunder. The area started to get hotter, the flames licking the ground more and more. He was not about to lose, not now.
Not ever.
“I will never lose you,” he then raised his weapon again ready to strike. Although before he could, her voice rang out again. This time though it wasn’t in desperation, but more as if she was instructing him.
“Then find me,” she had responded back to him. “Find me again, my love. Not in this world, but the waking one. A place where we will reunite, and I can be in your arms again.”
Ares was silent and confused.
What did she mean by the waking world?
He didn’t have much time to ponder since the world around him started to vanish in a rush of black. The god of war became tense and uneasy, not for his sake but for his goddess that was still trapped behind the wall of trees.
However, even though he was worried she wasn’t, instead she reassured his frantic mind and heart with her sweet words.
“Do not worry, my love you are just waking up.”
Suddenly, the trees disappeared and there she was standing there. Smiling at him, making his heart leap. Ares tried to go to her, but he couldn’t move his legs. Nothing was holding him down he had checked, but it was obvious that the dream wanted him to listen. Rather than join the goddess.
“When you wake, find me. Then we will be together again.”
Ares felt his body going weightless and he felt a tug in his chest.
He was waking up.
“Find me.”
She said one last time.
“Find me!”
Then he woke up.
***
It was midday, and Ares was once again in the arena, sparring like he always did. As he fought some of his brother’s automation warriors his mind was being plagued with the dream, he had earlier that morning.
He couldn’t understand it.
The goddess and him were together.
They were in love.
But. . . How could that be?
They only interacted once, and that was just a mere few days ago. There was no way in all Olympus that he could be in love with her. For one he knew nothing about her.
Not her name.
Her godly domain.
Or anything.
So, why in that dream had it seemed like he knew everything about her? When that was far from the truth.
Why hadn’t he seen her on Olympus, until that day?
Who was she really and why was it that the more he thought of her, the more his heart yearned for her to be near him?
What was happening to him?
The more the questions and confusion piled up. The more and more frustrated he became, and he cut through the warriors like a scythe through wheat. Taking them down blow by blow.
Never once stopping.
Never once yielding.
Until there was nothing left.
Ares stood in the arena surrounded by metal that was bent, twisted, and broken. His chest heaved with adrenaline, but also frustration. His muscles were tense and the vein on his right hand was bulging due to the grip he had on his hammer’s handle.
He wanted to yell.
He wanted to scream.
Do anything to release the anger and help him solve this maddening puzzle.
To spread his fire of war and rage wherever he could. But then, when he was at his peak of aggression, he felt it.
That same presence he felt those days ago.
That foreign feeling of calm and relaxation.
Touched him once again just as it did in the gardens. It crept in gently and washed over him like waves upon the shore. The tide calling back the water before it reached him yet again. In his mind, this. . . Feeling. Brushed his face in the gentle breeze, bringing an irresistible fragrance with it.
Lavender.
He knew that scent.
It was the same scent from his dream, that very dream that made him question his sanity and very being. That same dream where there was no war or strife, but pure peace. A dream that had her.
The clouded eyed maiden.
The goddess with starlight hair.
It was her.
Was… She reaching out to him? Was the breeze carrying that scent, her scent, his way as a sign of some sort?
Was she near?
Ares had wondered about this and more as he closed his eyes taking in the presence that he had no idea he missed. His heart danced, and his stomach was doing summer saults.
Why was he acting this way?
“For a message whispered upon the wind,” his ears perked up, eyes snapping open. That voice, it couldn’t be. “Our paths will cross once more,” it was, it was her. Speaking to him through the breeze and whispering in his mind and heart.
That sweet voice.
“I hope to see you soon,” his breath caught in his throat. “Glad of war.”
Then just like that, the message ended. The breeze was gone along with the luscious scent of lavender that accompanied it. Although, the lingering peace was still there.
In his heart.
His mind.
His soul.
Ares felt it all and more, he felt excited, strangely excited it was unusual and unexpected. However, he didn’t chase the peace he had away. Instead, he grasped it trying to keep it with him. This was strange, he felt strange. His rage had always been comforting, and his mind was always plagued by war, and he had to admit he was brutish at times and held grudges easily which was true. He was easily jealous and prideful, which came at the expense that he was a powerful god. The son of the king and queen of the Olympian gods. However, his arrogance and haughty behavior was always his downfall, but it made him. . . Him.
Ares had no problems before, until now.
Whatever this feeling was, that had started to form in his mind and heart to ease him so. He wanted it.
No.
He needs it.
He needs her.
“Find me.”
He remembered what she said to him in the dream, a request, an instruction to his mind of what to do.
“Find me.”
Ares started to walk out of the arena, his war hammer resting mightily on his right shoulder. The more he walked, he pondered everything.
Their meeting.
His dream.
Along with her message.
“I hope to see you soon.”
He stopped walking. “See you soon.” Suddenly, Ares realized something: She was coming back. She was coming back to see him, but for how long? How soon was that he wondered. Was she already here?
If so, then he was going to have to find her. Ares’s crimson eyes observed his surroundings as he took in the beauty of Olympus and its inhabitants. Somewhere in the realm of the gods awaited a goddess who was as mysterious as she was beautiful.
And he was going to find her.
No matter what it took.
Tightening his hold on his hammer, Ares’s eyes burned with determination and promise.
“I will find you.”
“You’ll find who?”
Ares jolted in his spot, freezing as he turned to face the unwelcome voice that penetrated his private, but open thoughts, and scowled.
Great, just great.
Not only did he have a goddess to find and questions to be answered. But now he had an annoying bastard brother to contend with.
Just perfect.
A/N: Hey everybody! So, I wanted to say thank you for reading this new chapter of Blind Love and Silent Hearts. I hope it was to your liking, and I for one cannot wait to write the next chapter. So, thanks again and see you all soon.
What should happen when war craves peace? Will the world burn, or will it be balanced? Only time will tell.
This fanfic happens immediately after the garden scene in Blood of Zeus's episode, "Winter is Born." Season 2, Episode 3.
After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Persephone and Hades. Ares returns to Olympus in a rage, but as war rages it is the hands of peace that calm him down. The only problem is now, he cannot seem to shake away the feeling of those eyes. Those clouded eyes that brought him a welcoming peace. A story in which war chases after peace.
A/N: I do not own Blood of Zeus, that is owned by Netflix. I just own the plot and my original character(s). This story is also on Ao3.
Blind Love and Silent Hearts - Chapter 4. When Peace Desires Freedom
A beautiful lone bird sits in a cage; despite being unable to fly, she has everything she could want.
She has food given to her every morning, noon, and night her belly never once empty.
Even though she cannot soar amongst the clouds and the vast blue horizon, she can still see and feel the sun. The golden orb in the sky warms her feathers, letting her feel the life and wonder that the sun gives.
Though she cannot sing with others she can still hear their call. No matter how far or close they may be. She lets out her own tune, one that is cheerful and a call for friendship, for solace.
However, her calls are left in vain. For what is the purpose of singing when no one can hear your voice? What is the reason for feeling the sun when one cannot share the skies with it? What is the point of having endless food when you cannot share it or enjoy it outside on a beautiful sunny day?
Even though she had everything, it felt like she had nothing. For what is the point of having everything when the one thing that anyone can long for is forever out of reach?
How can one be happy, if they never experienced pure joy? What is the purpose of having wings if one cannot soar?
What is the purpose of having everything, when you can't have freedom?
~ * ~
"Do you know how long I was looking for you?!"
"Nice to see you too, Galidae," Sophie replied to nymph with a sarcastic roll of her eyes and stood up from her position on the ground.
"Oh, don't you dare 'Nice to see you Galidae,' me." Screeched the infuriated nymph, "I have been searching all morning for you. Only to be told that you were here at this lake!"
The nymph put her hands on her hips and glared at the goddess before her. Her gaze was fiery as she scolded the goddess like she was a child. "You could have fallen in the lake. Or fallen and twisted an ankle or broken a bone. Or. . . Or -"
"Or," Sophie interrupted her, "Got eaten by a ferocious animal." She then bared her teeth and raised her hands to mimic deadly claws. "Or I could have gotten stuck in a tree." She gestured to the various grand pine trees around her. But soon, Sophie's clouded eyes widened before she made an overexaggerated face and clasped her hands together in a dramatic motion.
"Or maybe something even worse could befall me. Like a dashing stranger steals me away, to become his wife." She then looks at the nymph in mock terror, "And I wouldn't be able to resist because he would be the most dashing man, I had ever laid my eyes on."
Sophie, ever the dramatic, clasped her hands together and shook her shoulders, making it seem as if she was trembling from fear. Her lips wobbled and her eyes began to shine with tears, "What is a poor lonesome goddess like me to do?"
The goddess turned towards the nymph's direction, her face giving an expression of dread. Galidae was caught off guard for a moment, her worried face displaying shock and uncertainty. That was until, she saw her charge's face twist from that expression of dread to pure on mirth.
Clutching her stomach, Sophie doubled over in silent laughter. Well, it was silent to the rest of the world, except for Galidae. Since Sophie's mocking laughter was echoing irritatingly in her mind.
Galidae pinched the bridge of her nose, an oncoming headache steadily forming.
"My lady, this matter is serious."
"Oh, I know this matter is serious," Sophie replied through Galidae's mind. Her laughter had died down, but the mirth was still there and a lingering hint of sarcasm. "I know that this is as serious as Juniper with a bad hair day."
"You can joke with me all you want, Lady Sophie," Galidae's tone becoming serious. "But you don't understand the dangers you could put yourself in. You are not like the others; you cannot just do whatever you want as you please."
Sophie paused her mirth dying and her face twisting into a look of boredom, but Galidae continued onward.
"When Gaia sent you here it was under our official duties to watch out for you, my lady. Even though you jest about the outcomes, the dangers are still there. It is a shame you not only cannot see from my point of view, but your physical blindness hinders you as well. Not only that lady Sophie, but your inability to speak is also a major problem. You can't cry out for help or even utter a single sound. Which is just about as dangerous as you being blind." The nymph's eyes flickered towards Sophie and took in her face. Which held a mixture of hurt and growing anger.
Galidae knew that bringing the goddess' physical disabilities was a low blow, but how else was she supposed to get her point across?
Sophie was a wonderful goddess. She was kind to those around her and had the tendency to lift the spirits of others. Sophie had a gentle soul, making it easy for her to tend to the animals or solve emotional problems in any conflict. Along with this she was a great listener, so she was easy to talk to about anything. Sometimes, however, that also was a problematic thing too, since some of her nymph's sisters tended to sometimes over share. Causing the young goddess's mind to run wild with ideas. Both good and bad, but other than that Sophie was a good person with an amazing personality.
However, Sophie was also reckless and not as careful as one would think, and she did have a rebellious streak about her. One that constantly would give the poor nymph a headache, and this mostly revolved around the fact that Sophie thought herself to be normal.
A goddess with no limitations to her, who could do the things others did. Like journeying and venture off on her own. Interacting with whomever she wished and existing outside of this forest.
Sadly, she cannot for her disabilities hinder her so. With her blindness, she cannot see the dangers the world has to experience. Especially, the realm of the gods, which hold more dangers than just staring down a five headed Hydra. There were the likes of Zeus who pursued anything that breathed or rather had a hole. Then there were jealous goddesses like Hera or Aphrodite. Finally, there were gods that would have taken advantage of Sophie's kindness and naivety to use her for there own gain.
Then there was also the case with her muteness as well. Not being able to scream or shout for help. Her inability to utter a single sound is also what holds her back, and it was extremely another danger for her.
Out of all these things there was something that put Sophie in more danger than all the other reasons combined.
Sophie was the goddess of peace.
And peace was always coveted.
When Galidae first started out as Sophie's caretaker, Gaia herself told her of the danger Sophie would be in if anyone found out about her. How the gods and/or other beings would tear the realm apart to have Sophie in their possession. Their desire for true peace amongst them would cause even more discord in the pantheon and the realm of Greece. Even Zeus himself would want to hoard Sophie, and she will be trapped in a cold unrelenting prison.
So, it was crucial that Sophie remain here and if Galidae must deal low blows for her to understand.
Then so be it.
"You are fragile, and fragile things must be kept safe surely you understand this?" Galidae asked her.
Sophie, unwilling to answer, lowered her head to where her eyes were more directed towards the ground then glancing in Galidae's direction.
"I understand," she had said voice twinged in sadness. "I understand, perfectly."
Galidae stared in slight shock at Sophie, before releasing a sigh of relief. The nymph was very relived for she knew how stubborn Sophie was. Always wanting to do more and experience more.
To have a sense of freedom.
But unfortunately, something like that was not in the cards for a goddess like Sophie, for it meant risking her safety. Which was something that Gaia and Galidae didn't want to happen.
"I am glad you understand, lady Sophie. This is for the better anyway. Now with that settled." Galidae then clapped her hands together, "We must make way to the villa, lady Gaia is set to visit tomorrow, and we best prepare."
"You didn't let me finish Galidae," the goddess' voice cut through the nymph's mind. Halting her ever rushing thoughts and taking control of the conversation. Sophie's eyes shined with uncontained fury. "I told you I understood what you were saying yes. I know what Gaia's purpose for having me here is as well. I have known since day one."
Sophie let out a huff and turned away from Galidae, folding her arms across her chest. Her mind swirling with emotions that she refused to fully dwell on.
"I understand that my life has been condemned in such a way to which I cannot do what my heart desires." She had to blink back the onslaught of tears that had started to gather in her clouded eyes. But she spoke nonetheless voice unwavering, "I understand, that I have my faults and misfortunes that were laid upon me the moment I was birthed into this world. This harsh and cruel, but beautiful and wonderous world that I cannot even be a part of or experience myself because of Gaia and her overbearing protectiveness." Sophie then whirled back around to gaze in Galidae's direction.
"You say that I am fragile. Grandmother, Gaia, says the world is cruel and wicked. That the outside. . ." The tears started to fully form now, "Is a dangerous place for someone like me. Someone who carries peace and serenity wherever she goes, but how am I supposed to know these things if I never leave? Under Gaia's orders I can never leave this forest and even here I am treated as if I am a piece of glass. I am just very tired of it Galidae, I am tired of it all."
Galidae watched face unmoving, but heart twisting at the sight of Sophie's tears that started to slide down her face. Her freckled cheeks being streaked with tears, making her even more beautiful to the eyes of any who gazed upon her. The nymph had no doubt in her mind as her eyes looked at Sophie, that the goddess could enchant even the most hard-hearted god or man in the world with her stunning beauty.
A beauty that was delicate and gentle.
A beauty that could maybe, rival Aphrodite's.
A beauty that could make anyone want to fight for her or over her.
Which is why Sophie's comment earlier had startled her so. For Galidae had seen the possibility in a dream. A dream that rattled her so much so that she immediately told Gaia.
In the dream she stood in the forest. She was always in the forest. There she would look on as Sophie would stand in a pure white dress, hair flowing down her back in soft waves of starlight. The wind blowing her hair in the gentle breeze it carried and the fragrance of the lilac flowers surrounding them drifted through the air. It was always nighttime in the dream, when the moon was at its fullest and its heavenly light shined down upon her form. Illuminated by the light, Sophie looked even more beautiful than before. She reminded Galidae of a spirit drifting through the meadows.
Longing.
Wondering.
Searching.
To her it was a vision, that was so peaceful it seemed timeless.
Until he came for her. He always came for her.
In every version of the dream, a shadow would be spotted on the moon. It would start off small but then it would grow until it became the shape of a man. No, not a man, but a god. He would ride in on his black chariot, black stallions with fiery tempers as untamable as the sea would land in front of the goddess. When he steps off his midnight black chariot, he always approaches the peaceful goddess offering her his hand. Words were never spoken between them, but instead a silent understanding. Sophie would place her hand in his and he would lead her to his chariot, placing her beside him as he took the reins. Galidae would always try to rush out to Sophie, telling her that she was making a huge mistake, and that Gaia would not want this. But every time Galidae went to protest to plead her words were silent, and her feet were planned firmly to the ground, and watched on helplessly. As the goddess of peace was carried away into the night never to be seen again.
Even now Galidae still felt chills over the dream and the god that came from it. She didn't know who he was nor what he looked like. The only clue she had were burning crimson red eyes, eyes that sent a shiver down her spine.
Eyes that were the color of blood.
After telling Gaia about the dream, the primordial goddess ordered for her to keep an even more watchful eye on Sophie. Ensuring that she was safe and to make Sophie desire to stay hidden.
Unfortunately, for Galidae that was easier said than done.
"Sophie, I..." she tried to find the right words. "I hear your concerns, my lady. Irregardless, I must concur with that despite you feeling this way. It comes from a good place, with pure and true intentions. Myself, my sisters, and lady Gaia all want what is best for you -"
"And what is best for me?!" The goddess of peace shouted out. Galidae winced as a slight pain twinged in her head.
"My lady, please try to understand -"
"No, you try and understand Galidae," Sophie rebaited angrily. "All my life I have been trapped in nothing solitude and isolation. Being told of what I can and cannot do, because of the limitations placed upon me. I may have joked earlier about the dangerous situations I could have potentially been in. However, that was just a cry for help."
Sophie stopped turning away once more, her eyes darting to and frow around the area. The tears in her eyes were falling still, like liquid crystal.
"Many a time I've been told that this forest will bring me happiness. For I am in the world, breathing its air. Feeling the warm sun on my skin and hearing the life the world has to offer. At first, I was content with the forest and the rules that were set in place, because at the end of it I knew. That I would never have to feel trapped in a place like the Hidden Realm again." Sophie then closed her eyes smiling a small smile. A smile that didn't contain joy, but sorrow.
A sorrow that has been building up for years, on a dream that will never see light. That never gets to soar and dance in the vast sky, upon wings strong and wide. Touching the clouds, soaring higher and higher never looking down.
A dream.
No!
A desire.
A desire for the one thing that she always dreamed of seemed only reachable in the bowels of the subconscious. Something that seemed more myth than fact, imaginary rather than reality.
A want.
A need.
It was so close, it felt so agonizingly close that Sophie could reach out and touch it with her fingers. But every time she tried it vanished, from sight never to show itself again unless to mock her. To torture her more than any punishment that Tartarus could give. The one thing that she will forever long for and will give her the wings to finally soar. As high as any bird, with no limitations or faulty.
Reaching out she longed for it. More than anyone or anything.
She longed for freedom, pure freedom.
Freedom from the limits that weighed heavy on shoulders like giant boulders on her back both physically and mentally.
Freedom from the forest, and its trees that were secretly the bars of a gilded cage.
Freedom to experience the good and the bad of the world and learn from its harsh lessons. Turning her into a more well-rounded goddess.
Freedom to love and be loved by others, not from a far hidden behind a thick veil that cannot be lifted.
Freedom from the fear of the unknown and of Zeus along with the rest of the gods.
Freedom to finally soar so high, she would reach the sun, and she would not burn. She wouldn't be an Icarus; she would not fall once her wings caught fire. Instead, she would shine along with the sun for all to see and she would finally be.
Be seen.
Be heard.
Be free.
"This place is not but a gilded cage, disguised in the greenery of leaves and flowers. It may seem big and spacious. However, it is still small compared to the rest of the world which has wonders in everything. Every flower. Every animal. Every breath of life that is breathed into this world holds a precious moment. A memory to cherish and experiences that engrave into one's soul, forever. Until the end of time." Sophie voice whispered into the nymph's mind. Her peaceful essence washing over the area as it did before.
"Yes, it does, my lady. Even so, out of all the wonders the world offers and the memorable moments that they effortlessly bring. There is darkness that tends to creep in when the light dims, and the shadows consume when one is at their most unexpected." Galidae replied to Sophie expression hinting at more than it should. Words causing the goddess to slowly turn towards her eyes containing even more sorrow than before, but also something a little lighter.
An air of hope.
"But even when the darkness takes over and the shadows do dance. Doesn't the light turn on again?" Sophie asked the nymph rhetorically. "When death comes with cold hands, the soul soon finds no more pain and can live anew in eternal peace. For even a common man who has nothing will have everything in the next life than a rich man with all his wealth and power. Can never achieve true happiness, because he was still lacking."
"What are you trying to say, lady Sophie?"
"What I am trying to say dear Galidae. Is that no matter the danger and no matter the hardships a single individual faces. To have the things you lack you must have happiness, but you cannot have true happiness without peace. Even still, what is peace without out freedom?"
Sophie exhaled and side stepped Galidae, slowly walking past her caretaker with ease. The goddess' hair blew gently in the breeze, the scent of lilacs once again carrying on the wind.
Just like her dream.
Galidae's eyes watched her charge as she turned her head slightly, tilting in her direction. Hands clasped together behind her and a gentle smile gracing her lips. Before she turned away and walked in the direction of the villa and out of sight from the nymph.
For a moment, Galidae considered the goddess' words. She wondered if maybe, just maybe, her words had some merit.
Happiness wasn't truly earned until one had peace.
Meanwhile, true peace couldn't be earned without freedom or happiness.
Galidae pondered this, Sophie has always been hidden from the world. Unseen and unheard by anyone outside this very forest. Where the inhabitants see it as a refuge.
Sophie sees it as a prison, and the nymph couldn't deny where the goddess' mind was coming from. Like a bird with its wings clipped and locked in a golden cage. It had everything it needed to survive and everything it could possibly want in life, but still.
Imprisonment was imprisonment.
Galidae as much as she tried couldn't deny that.
Maybe...
She had hesitatingly wondered.
Maybe she could talk to Gaia about giving Sophie a little bit of the freedom she had so craved. Nothing too drastic, but a small dose, nonetheless. At least enough to satisfy the beast that lurked in the corners of Sophie's heart. The same beast that drove the goddess' impulsiveness and unwavering ways of rebellion.
As Galidae thought of this she started to walk back to the villa in the same direction as Sophie. Mind clouded with ideas and plans on how to temper Sophie's growing desire to venture out.
But as she walked the burning image of those crimson eyes seared a harsh engraving in her brain. The man that gave her the same amount of uncertainty in her dreams was still giving her chills in her waking moments.
Galidae prayed that her dreams weren't real, and that Morpheus just decided to play a cruel joke on her. Yet, she doubted it was, and she continued to wonder if Sophie had some freedom, would she wonder?
Would she stay after she realized that what she and Gaia said was indeed true? Or would she stray and run headlong into danger, disregarding her safety in the process?
Or will she run into his arms?
Galidae sighed, "Only time will tell with that girl." She exclaimed to herself exhausted and exasperated, while a thought came to her mind. "If peace wants freedom to fly, she mustn't soar too high, but maybe just enough to satisfy her."
With that thought in mind Galidae journeyed back to the villa, with intentions to carry out her mistress's bidding and protect Sophie no matter the circumstances.
***
Meanwhile at Sophie's end, the peaceful goddess had stopped walking to pull out a beautiful green gemstone that matched the leaves on the trees above. It glimmered in the dazzling sunlight, the sunrays dancing on its surface causing it to shine in an enchanting light.
Sophie clutched the stone to her chest and looked up towards the sky, smiling an all-knowing smile.
"For I know your heart wars in a constant battle, that it is so endless for even you cannot seem to understand where to stop." Her thumb brushed over the gem's surface before continuing, "But I vow to help you in your endeavors and call your heart to rest. To understand, peace and true happiness."
Sophie sighed her peaceful energy flowing upward and outward towards the bondless heavens. "For a heart that longs for more, I will make sure you see it come true. I promise all this to you." She let the energy die away and gave a hopeful and wonderous smile. Then she placed the gemstone back into her dress pocket and walked back on her path to the villa.
Heart alight and spirits forever bright, then she whispered gently on the wind. Carrying her message, upward as well as a welcoming peace.
~ * ~
High atop Mount Olympus, a certain war god felt the presence, his muscles relaxing and his heart warming at the feeling. His ears perked up as he heard the voice that he hadn't heard in days, being whispered on the gentle breeze.
"For a message whispered upon the wind. Our paths will cross once more; I hope to see you soon. Glad of war."
Then just like before, peace once again settled over the god of war.
A/N: Okay everyone chapter 4 is up and out. I hope you all liked it or loved it. But I have a question for all you Blood of Zeus fans. What did you guys think of the trailer for BoZ S3? I for one am so excited to for it, and I dreading it at the same time. Like seriously I can't believe (Spoiler if you haven't seen the trailer) that Persephone, Hephaestus, AND Ares die. I hope they come back. Speaking of Ares, his chapter is next. See you all soon.
